the teri meri chapter

 

everything is more beautiful
because we are doomed.
you will never be lovelier than you are now.
we will never be here again.

~~~ homer, the illiad ~~~

a teri meri chapter from my fanfiction.

~   without you: chapter 20   ~

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without you index

episode rambles

fanfiction

 

arnav ji goes to sasural

 
a r n a v  j i   g o e s   t o   s a s u r a l

the kick landed right on his stomach. he jackknifed up on the bed, "what the!" he exclaimed in agony.

clutching his stomach he looked around in bewilderment. what could have hit him like that? was someone out to kill him?

then he noticed her leg on his lap. huh! what was khushi's leg doing here? before he could grasp at an answer, a fist came and hit him hard on the shoulder...

he turned and stared at khushi. it was her. she was kicking and punching him. what was this? some sort of bizarre khushi kumari raizada... singh gupta revenge plan? he snarled at her viciously only to realise she couldn't see it.

she was fast asleep.

asleep?

his jaw had just begun to drop, when her right leg swung out from somewhere unknown and struck his shin sharp.

"ow!" he exploded, grabbing his shin with both arms and rolling in pain. khushi flung an arm around him and held him tight, he could hear the faintest, softest, "mmm, arnav ji, chhoriye hume!"

(mmm, arnav ji, let me go!)

the pain seemed to glide from his shin to somewhere near his heart, all around it, and gripped tight. he closed his eyes, feeling the blow of her soft utterance and the weight of her lissome arm across his chest.

he let go of his shin and put his palm on her arm where it rested against his heart.

"khushi!" he whispered, a helpless sound in it tonight.

she decided to roll away just at that moment, all the way to the edge of the narrow bed. he was beginning to sit up to pull her back, when she moved at mercurial speed once more, rolling right back and slamming hard against the length of his body, her back to him.

his arms reached out in reflex. she pressed back against him and her elbow flew backward jabbing him in the ribs.

"uggfhffh!" was all he could manage. then before any further damage was done, he slipped his arms around her from behind and held her firmly, pulling her even closer.

"come here, you crazy taekwondo queen, and stay still, samjhi tum!" he whispered, a little anger in his voice.

his shin was really hurting. her size was deceptive, all that samosa, chana and poori eating had obviously built brute strength in his sleeping beauty. he peered at her innocent features evocative in the moonlight. a malfunction in the heart region occurred instantly.

he swallowed.

his hand accidentally brushed against her belly... it yielded to his touch, cushiony and soft.

something leapt in him. he closed his eyes. how would he survive this night?

he breathed out very carefully and opened his eyes, and concentrated on the bright pink mosquito net. maybe it would work, take his mind of... things.

pink mosquito net? what the.

she punched him on his quadriceps. deftly.

......................

i wrote this for blast from the past thread 24's main post. the episode 234 first time in bed together scene is one of the most curiously erotic scenes between asr and khushi with all its hitting, bashing, anger, laughter, undercurrents of desire.

episodes of swami and 

taekwondo queen

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stories of asr and kkg index

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episode rambles

not cut out for love: epilogue

the lights diminished to a low almost eerie, then were completely extinguished.

darkness was all around.

the hum of voices died down.

stillness came and settled into the black quiet space. hands reached out and fingers intertwined, pens were put down on notebooks, fingers alert on shutter buttons took a break. people were mystified, even frightened. yet there was a waiting... bated breath... a hush of expectation.

sound came first, then light, reversing the order of nature.

feet running... a set of them, then more, then more still. bare feet striking a hard surface, over their rhythm, the sound of breath, growing in size and pace, louder and yet no more than a whisper really. many breaths aligning, rising, falling, harmonising.

how many people were there? who were they? was everything alright?

even as nervousness grew, a flash of red. light!

spotlights from high above picked graceful bodies leaping and pirouetting on the long ramp below. lithe, toned figures in pitch black leotards executed breathtaking moves, in each dancer's hand a floating length of fabric: silk, chiffon, cotton, lace, all in red and orange and every shade of fire, heat, rage.

yet among them was a sleek tall dancer, dressed utterly in black, no swath of cloth in his hand, his moves majestic, large and flecked with anger... a redness in their core.

his companions milled around his furious grace, their arcing and swishing banners painting the darkness in colours of fire...

a sound of distant drums thundered in, other percussion sounds came rushing. the tempo gathered speed, the dancers grew more joyous. or was it frenzied? they swirled around like whirling dervishes with their pennants held aloft... a magnificent build up, a sense of culmination, of eruption.

the audience sat transfixed. this opening sequence by ar was not exactly what anyone had expected. ar was known for its beautifully choreographed, brilliantly executed runway events. they had even had brazilian carnival dancers once. and a couple of years ago, the show had ended with an offbeat, retro dance inspired by audrey hepburn's number in funny face as a tribute to her, the timeless fashion icon.

but this was nothing like those.

in fact, it was hard to even call it a dance. it was a canvas of sensual and elemental movements that aroused deep seated feelings which made you slightly uncomfortable and yet they elated. ignited.

as the dancing reached a crescendo, music stopped. all sound was out.

the audience drew in its breath.

and into this walked a single figure swathed in red from head to toe. dark carmine red, sequins scattered across her bosom and limbs, her scull cap glittering with red gemstones.

music began to enter and ascend. the dancer in red moved gracefully toward the ferocious lead in black. the flames around them fulminated and fumed.

the man and the woman began a duet... it seemed, of destruction... he would not let her be, he would end her... he sought dominance, she lay unresisting in his arms, he whirled around her punishing, demanding she fight back... she leaped into his arms and twirled with him as if in happiness, he flung her away, she danced alone but didn't succumb...

at last she drew him into her arms, she soothed him with her swaying movement it seemed, she clasped him to her bosom.

a voice was heard, a grain in it and a matter of fact yet ruminative delivery, "when the agung is angry, no one dare go near... fear... stalks the earth.. the very flames themselves... the lava flows and all it wants is to end... to end.. end it all..."

on the ramp, he laid her down and embraced her. moments of love were portrayed by sensuous hands, legs, eyes and turns of body...

the voice continued, "yet the frangipani knows otherwise... she knows because she fears not his rage, she knows because she finds what no one does... she knows what he seeks what he feels .. she knows of his deep true hunger... his ravenous hunger... for that thing no one can name..."

the dancers bearing red arrayed all around like a chorus, reflecting and elaborating the story unfolding.

the two dancers at centre rose and stood intertwined... the true destination of the dance had been reached. it was not death. it had to be love.

the voice grew soft almost whisper like, "the agung calls out to the frangipani they say with that anger and fire each time..."

the man and woman kissed. a sculpted, serene vision. both utterly still.

the words came floating, "the frangipani has never been known not to have heard and come..."

the music turned another corner and grew large and energetic. the dancers streaked in, running again. they circled the lovers, then lofted them high and and began to leave the ramp.

the lights went out again.

a moment later, a flash of many bulbs and the all was brightly lit. before the audience stood at least twenty models in their blooms in agung silhouettes.

"ladies and gentleman, welcome to ar's biggest show of the year, blooms in agung!" arnav singh raizada walked onto the ramp, dressed in his trademark black jacket, black waist coat, black slim fitting trousers. this evening even his shirt and tie were black.

everyone broke into applause

khushi kumari gupta singh raizada had just realised why he'd insisted she wear her red chiffon today. that laad governor! khushi gritted her teeth. how embarrassing... good thing only he knew she called him jwalamukhi and that frangipani... khushi blushed.

that's when she heard his voice and looked up. he stood there, in complete command of the moment.

arnav ji... he had worked so hard for this moment... all these months. he sensed her eyes on him and for a second his chocolate gaze rested on her.

she smiled at him, her anger gone, then she puckered her lips and kissed him from where she sat. did arnav ji smile slightly?


***


backstage, kareena sighed in sheer relief and collapsed onto a chair. she was almost in tears, exhausted with anxiety. asr had said it had to be a classy interpretation of sex! she had cursed herself roundly and dramatically every day since the day she'd told him what she thought of when she heard "ravenous."

sex?

i mean, kareena... really?

must you be such a big mouth? such an idiot?

then kareena beamed. just before going onstage, her boss had startled her with a terribly lopsided smile and said, "well done! that was classy, and yes... it was sex... made me ravenous..." he'd actually winked at her before striding away.

kareena was still clutching her heart metaphorically... how did khushi survive this devastating man... and where was jp... she wanted to tell him, everything had gone off well... where was he...

"zat was spectaculah, my darling," said a voice with french accented english near her ear. then she felt a pair of lips kiss the edge of her ear lobe, exactly where she liked it... she stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips, sliding her arms around his waist.

"does zees mean you 'ave almost made up your mind to come wiz me?" jean pierre asked when she ended the kiss.

kareena smiled and said, "still thinking... seriously!"

the reply came, "i'll wait... seriously..."


***

aman looked at the whatsapp message. the trial against shyam manohar jha was going well in the us. mr dinesh singh was a wealthy smart man who had waited long for justice. he had spared no effort to make sure only the best prosecution lawyers worked on this case.

there had been a hearing that day. mr singh had sent a message to both asr and him saying it looked like they would get the life term they were asking for.

aman smiled slightly. his boss was a good man... perhaps the toughest dealmaker he had seen though. and it felt to him as though life had also succumbed to asr's unyielding, hard driving and honourable ways. out of nowhere had come a phone call from mr singh... and suddenly it was possible to punish shyam in the way he deserved. just plain charges of bigamy would have let him off too easily.

aman took a glass of wine from the waiter passing by with trays of red white and rose.

"cheers, asr," he thought to himself as he raised the glass and took a sip.


***

salman had watched the show with a critical eye. it had gone smoothly and it had made an impression he could clearly see. his first dress was already in a collection, on the ramp and would soon feature in a fashion magazine. salman was feeling ridiculously happy. he made a sombre face and stood at the back of the ramp along with all the designers who'd worked on blooms in agung.

kareena whispered, "why so serious, dude? you can smile a little you know..."

salman glowered. he was wary of public show of practically everything.

"jaan!" the lady's voice was loud and clearly audible.

salman almost jumped out of his skin.

it couldn't be... but no, he knew it was... it was his mother.

"mother!" he said in a sombre tone.

"beta! jaan! my jaanu, i am so proud of you!" squealed his mother standing at the edge of the ramp and waving out.

kareena muttered, "stop pretending, go give her a hug!"

khushi appeared next to the lady, "aap maa hain salman ji ki?" she beamed.

(are you salman ji's mother?)

"salman ji?! where? salman khan!" the lady replied excited.

"nahin! woh... salman... ji..." khushi pointed lamely toward salman...

his mother looked at him still not quite comprehending...

salman watched the quick step of emotions on his mother's face and couldn't help himself. he started to laugh.

khushi shook her head and tried to persuade her friend to help out...

"kareena ji!!" she called out.

"don't tell me, even kareena kapoor is here, m'dear," said salman's mother, eyebrows raised, very impressed, "what a fantastic debut my son has had... oh i must thank that handsome boss of his..."

khushi's eyes darted to the lady's face.

what! she was looking at arnav ji... no arnav... her arnav. khushi stared daggers at the lady.


***
 
the show was over, guests drank wine and nibbled on light bites waiting for dinner to be announced.

asr walked up to kareena and salman and shook their hands.

"well done, both of you. i've decided to send the two of you to paris for three months. you will work with jean pierre and get a feel of the international scene. you will also get a chance to see a couple of essential shows... whaat!" asr frowned. his two interns were looking at him mouth open.

he shrugged, raised his hands in a little what the gesture and walked away.

jp sauntered up to kareena and smiled, "i told you... seriously."

salman rolled his eyes.

his mouth was still open.


***

anjali and payal were sitting together at a table when the giddiness hit anjali. she could feel a darkness begin to descend. she got up panicking, reaching out blindly.

"payal... payal..." she mumbled, her lips getting heavier. then she passed out on her cousin's wife.

payal held anjali, almost giving way under the dead weight. di was into her final trimester, nothing must happen to her now, payal thought wildly.

she looked around the room and shouted, "is there a doctor here... we need a doctor!!"

"di!" asr had heard payal's voice, he came running from the far end of the room.

khushi began to rush toward them as did akash.

as asr cradled di in his arms and payal sat down on shaky legs, a deep voice said, "i am a doctor... may i take a look at the patient?"

all eyes turned toward the owner of the voice. he was a tall man with greying hair, he had the most intense dark eyes and a kind smile. his eyes were keen and curiously youthful.

"i am vijay verma... " he started to introduce himself.

"dr verma! what a surprise!" it was salman's mother, "even you are here today! how lovely! did you see salman's work..."

dr verma smiled politely at the lady and turned toward asr. together they lay anjali down on a sofa. he checked her pulse, then sprinkled some cold water on her face. in a few minutes anjali had opened her eyes.

asr breathed out slowly... he had no idea how long he had been holding his breath...

"i don't think you have anything to worry about, mr raizada, but just to be on the safe side, i'll speak to her doctor and see what she suggests. it must have been the strain... these last few days are always difficult..." he said.

"di! i'd told you not to come!" asr snapped, his worry making him angry. khushi glanced at her husband and seeing his bleak expression decided to leave him be. di was well, that was the main thing, hey devi maiyya.


***

"bye jp, bye khushi... salman, kareena, di... di! you must take care of yourself" lavanya was in a vibrant emerald green chiffon dress, looking every bit the fashion conscious and fashionable woman she was. she'd just got her new burgundy jimmy choos and she lost no chance to draw attention to them. she looked back and lifted her leg examining the underside of a slipper...

"oh, see nk, now some chewing gum is stuck on the heel... who eats chewing gum at a fashion show... i tell you people these days...!" la complained.

"oh, la, that's a gorgeous pair of sandals... " kareena gushed, "jimmy choo?" a tinge of envy in the younger girl's voice.

la drew herself up and gave a little smile, "yes, darling... one of my jcs..."

khushi was dying to ask who this jimmy ji was, but she wanted to get di some juice first.

"give me a hug before you go, khushi!" la said, embracing her, "see you after a month... i am so looking forward to this cruise with nk..."

nk grinned and exclaimed, "al fida, khushi... hasta la vista!"

khushi did a namaste and waved a bye.

"not al fida, nanhe ji... al vida... aur... hasta... la... vista," she ventured into the new words and they came out sounding almost a hundred percent the way they should.

asr looked at her amused. his eyebrow was already rising on his forehead. good, khushi thought, he is looking a little less worried.


***
 
they were driving back home in the suv when khushi had to ask, "arnav ji?"

asr cut in, "arnav..."

khushi started again, "arnav... yeh... what is hasta la vista? something to do with lavanya ji? la?"

asr grinned, "yes, it means la go slow... aaste." had his shoulders not been shaking, khushi would have bought that story.

"arnav... ji!" khushi glared.

"okay, don't get mad at me... just means, see you soon..." he said catching her hand and tucking it under his on the steering wheel.

"woh dr verma... wasn't he nice?" khushi said completely changing the subject.


***

the moon was high in the sky. clouds passed over its pale visage at a sedate nightlike pace. the water in the pool was a deep hue of midnight blue as it undulated and flowed.

the red chiffon was still stretched across the surface where it had landed a few moments ago.

lying on the deckchair two lovers separated themselves from the universe.

asr kissed khushi's breast as his hand stroked her middle, her stomach... she shuddered convulsively and moaned.

a black shirt landed on the flagstone floor.

another set of clouds passed over the moon.

a delicate ivory hand stroked taut brown skin...

nothing they say is forever, but at this moment you'd know without a doubt that is not really true...

hasta la vista, all. hope you enjoyed ncofl. i have taken special lessons from jp to say in perfect french accent... au revoir... aate hain. and please excuse the endless typos... a huge thank you and tonnes of gratitude to supriya.arshi and sunshine80 for the utterly ncofl banners and edits.

index

  

not cut out for love: chapter 44

he frowned darkly as he looked at the faint trace of yellow on the back of his right hand where mami had put a generous dab of the turmeric paste. di had smiled widely as she'd taken a little bit of the paste off his skin and scraped it on the edge of another bowl of the haldi ceremony turmeric she was holding in her hand.

"ho gaya!" she had smiled, "now we can take this over to khushi's place and she can have her haldi... chalo chalo, everyone finish putting haldi on chhotey, we must leave soon, not much time left..."

(done! now we can take this over to khushi's place and she can have her haldi... let's go let's go, everyone finish putting haldi on chhotey, we must leave soon, not much time left...)for a while now, he'd been standing before his potted coleuses, shears in hand, trying to concentrate and trim the tips. his eyes kept straying to the spot on his hand. he needed to quieten his mind. suddenly nothing was feeling stable, there was a roil in him he couldn't control. it made him exceedingly uncomfortable.

he had quickly washed off all the turmeric blotches all over him, straight after the ceremony. thankfully, there had been very little time and di had to be content with a quick haldi session. the family had started the morning with akash's haldi and di had had her fill of ceremony there asr hoped. as for himself, it was a blessing really that they had to rush through the whole thing.

he had agreed to haldi thinking really of di. he had not given her or anyone else much time when he'd said he was going to marry khushi. and there was shyam, the truth that no matter what, would have to come out and hurt di like perhaps nothing ever had. anyway, he didn't believe in these ridiculous customs... but if observing one gave her some joy, he was willing to go through with it.

when he had sat out in the verandah, wearing his track pants and tee... he had of course refused to wear the kurta pyjama di had pulled out... he hadn't really given much thought to the colourful orange and red decorations, the priest with his pot belly and beatific smile, the advancing women in bright gaudy sarees bearing the haldi and other things needed at the ceremony, and all the many signs of wedding evident everywhere in his house. all he wanted to do was get this over and done with and then go finish a couple of hours' work.

and yet, when di had come close suddenly and smiled, her eyes twinkling, her pale yellow and gold bangles jangling, and said that about khushi... about taking the turmeric that had laid on his skin to her... something had started to happen inside him. and whatever it was, it left him troubled, frowning.

what was he doing? he snipped a tip of coleus sharply, deftly, making sure the points from where the next leaves would sprout were not harmed.

married? he was going to be married in less than eight hours? what was wrong with him? had he gone mad? how could he have even thought of such a thing?

arnav singh raizada could feel a thick restlessness in his chest. a howling persistent wind rushing through him. he didn't believe in marriage.

he snipped another tip, just as carefully as before.

he had never ever felt the desire to spend his entire life with anyone and even if he had, he was sure he would not marry, he'd simply live with the person.

marriage is a place where people destroy each other, not nurture, not love. his face set in a sneering grimace. memories came. maa... she had paid with her life. di... di...i couldn't save you, how i failed you... i was so stupid.

he bent further toward the bushes and continued with the pruning.

unbelievable... a girl whom he had never set eyes on till a couple of months ago, today they were joined in ways he had never thought of in his life.

a girl who didn't belong to his world, a girl who believed in things he never could... a girl who collected sea shells, who spoke to stars with a serious face, who ate six aloo parathas without batting an eyelid, a girl who said "haylow."

his eyebrows shot up at this last thought... he didn't realise but he'd started to smile, even though the frown remained dark. he breathed in deeply, did she know anything about gardening, he wondered.

he was sure she'd over water the plants and talk so much they'd wish no one had told human beings you must talk to plants.

suddenly he was laughing.

then he looked up at the sun and thought, "maa, this is going to be hard on me..."

"nannav!" shouted out a familiar voice which was not supposed to be here in delhi.

asr turned around startled... what was nk doing here?

"nannav, mere bhai!" a smiling young man, good looking and full of energy, came bounding out of his room onto the poolside, behind him came akash, behind them... mami. and following everyone else trotted in lakshmi ji.

(nannav, my brother!)

"surprrrissse!" said nand kishore, or nk as everyone called him, mami's sister's son who lived in sydney, "did you think the man who said he'd never marry would..." he paused for effect, gesticulated with both hands making circles in the air, and went on, "... marry! and i wouldn't come down! humney hawai jahaaz liya aur kooda!"

(i took the plane and garbage!)

"kooda naahin, my handsome nefoos phrom downs under, he he he... you arej callings aastralia thats i knowj... your mausi eej obhars the taaps to seej you.. kooda toh eej what laksmi eatings... uda, uda... flyings!"

(not garbage, my handsome nephew from down under, he he he... you call australia that i know... your aunt is over the top to see you... garbage is what lakshmi eats... flew, flew... flying!)

lakshmi said "meh mehhh!" in protest.

"ma, lakshmi eats only the finest vegetable peels and fruit, and her laddoo has to be made with pure ghee... not exactly kooda, and over the moon, not top..." akash grinned, "bhai, nk just arrived from the airport... and of course before i could stop him, he barged in," he said with a faintly apologetic air.

"nk...," asr gave a tight little smile and greeted the ebullient young man who called him by that name which was always a reminder of his childhood. he couldn't pronounce "arnav" when he was an infant, he would say, "nannav." nk decided that was what he would call him, and no amount of bribe, negotiation, threat had been able to change his mind over the years.

"c'mon, give your old buddy a hug," said nk completely unfazed by the restrained welcome and full of cheer, put his arms around his cousin's cousin.

asr made sure nk did not see the smile on his face as he hugged him back. he was glad nk had flown down. he had a feeling khushi would like him.

damn. why was he thinking of her again. wasn't it enough he was going to marry her in less than eight hours!


***
"arri o parmeswari, toko apne amma babu ji ka koi phikar haay ki naahin, hau?? or is it that because, hai re nand kissore, they are not your real parents it doesn't matter!" bua ji  was trenchant as she hollered the moment she laid eyes on khushi.

(o supreme goddess, do you care at all for your amma and babu ji, huh??)

khushi had just walked into the house, shashi ji and garima had barely had a chance to speak to her, when madhumati ji got back from the temple nearby. thankfully, billo mausi was not in the room, payal thought as she stood on one side, already dressed for haldi, waiting to help khushi get ready.

khushi looked at bua ji aghast and her lips trembled. babu ji made a move to reach out, amma took a step toward her, but pushing everyone aside, bua ji got to khushi in one swift gigantic move and stood hands on waist, face thrust forward.

"don't think crying will get you out of this scolding, understand, aafat ki puriya! if you'd been my daughter, i'd have beaten you with a stick, nand kissore, for this callousness of yours, samjhi maharani!" she snarled.

a tear rolled out of khushi's eye.

"phir humey mariye, bua ji," she said in a tiny voice, sniffing a little.

(then beat me, bua ji.)

"with a big fat stick, nand kissore!" bua ji shouted, her jowls shaking, eyes growing bigger, posture more threatening. babu ji and amma exchanged worried looks. payal quaked.

khushi looked at her toes.

bua ji swung her plait around her neck and hit her forehead with a heavy hand, "saadi hai, khoosie, saadi... kauno gudda guddi ka khel naahin... how could you do this to everyone... to me!"

(it's wedding, khushi, a wedding, not a game... how could you do this to everyone... to me!)

"bua ji, hume maaf kar dijiye," khushi wept.

(bua ji, forgive me.)

"haaaink! you are crying... ee lo, nand kissore... do you know how ugly you look after you weep, sanka debi?? your eyes red and puffy, your cheeks extra fat, like you are indeed my daughter only... you even get a double chin and your lips... hah... become like two balushahis one on top of the other... how will my handsome damad ji marry you then... hai re nand kissore?" bua ji had done one of her mercurial and dramatic about turns and was now peering down at her niece, smiling from ear to ear, lifting khushi's face with two rotund fingers under her chin and swaying her head from side to side with an indulgent look.

khushi sniffed again and said, "maybe i am your daughter and i got lost in kumbh ka mela many years ago, hai re nand kissore..."

a lightness entered the room, babu ji burst out laughing, "bua bhatiji dono nautanki..." he said happily.

(aunt and niece, both drama queens)

"maskari!!" bua ji yelled, her eyes gleaming, "titaliya, ja ja... taiyaar hoja... abhi haldi leke oo raijaddan logan aateyi hongey!"

(joking!!! butterfly, go go... get ready... the raizadas will be coming with the turmeric paste soon!)

payal grabbed khushi's hand and ran with her from the room before anyone changed their mind or billo mausi arrived.


***

asr sat in his office looking tight lipped and still strangely disturbed. the laptop was open as usual before him though he hadn't glanced at the screen in the last fifteen minutes.

jean pierre knocked and looked in, when he saw asr at his desk, he said, "ahhnav! you are here now? go home... you're getting married zees evening... when la said she thought she saw you walk in, i couldn't believe my ears.. go, man, go home!"

"jp!" asr replied sounding completely in control, "good you dropped in, tell me... do you feel there is any merit in looking at a collection aimed at women who are not exactly size zero... let me be specific, i mean larger women... i have been wondering..."

jp gaped at asr.

"you mean, as in now, today, as you seet here, what ees eet.. seven hours before you are tying ze knot, you are seenking of a collection in ze future for ze... silhouette... very... 'ow shall i poot eet... unusual? really?" he managed to say between many shrugs and gasps.

"i think there's an opportunity... and something contemporary in that which might have traction, apart from the fact, it might challenge designers to actually come up with solutions that work and yet look devastatingly fashionable, different..." asr said blithely. work always made him feel better.

"okay! whatever... i will see you later," jp said and left the room.

asr got up and walked to the bank of windows that lined the front of his office... he looked down at the floor below... where was khushi?

then he cursed under his breath.

of course, she was not here today. what was he thinking.

he went and sat again, looking at his laptop, his mind roaming.

he didn't know what he noticed first, the wafting breeze or the faint scent of frangipani he thought he had just smelled. he blinked... what was that?

and though he frowned again, he didn't get up. he stretched out his legs and let his back rest against his chair. he had a feeling khushi was somewhere near.

no. not a feeling.

he was sure she had walked into her office next door. she was not supposed to be here... but...

yes. he knew she was there. he felt a calm begin to find its way into him.

nani ji had said after haldi the bride and bridegroom were not supposed to meet till the wedding. he was sure khushi believed in such things. he sat where he was, smiling ever ever ever so slightly.

***


khushi perched on her chair and clutched her hands tightly. hey devi maiyya, what was she doing here in the office today? but ever since that haldi, which had a little bit of turmeric that had touched him mixed in it, had been put on her, she had had the strangest of sensations.

this was peculiar... she wondered again if there had been jadoo tona. black magic. you never know.

she remembered brown eyes glinting and felt a shiver in her... she thought of brown hands, with their long slim fingers and her breath shook, she recalled a gravelly, husky voice and its way of saying "khushi" softly stroking the "kh" and felt her stomach fall to her toes.

hey devi maiyya... this was not normal. but she had wanted to be with laad governor the moment she felt the haldi being applied on her feet by her mother.

she'd blushed at the thought of that cool paste smeared on his taut skin and then touching some part of her. now her eyes fell on a light yellow stain on her forearm and she felt her cheeks burn.

she had to see him, she'd thought. but it was not allowed. and she didn't want to do anything that made a custom meaningless, nor worried her family all over again. so she had persuaded amma to let her go out for a while, she had promised she'd be back within an hour... they had to leave for shantivan where they'd get ready for the wedding.

she looked around her office and wished he'd open the door in between and stride in... order her to do some difficult thing or shout at her about something or...

khushi closed her eyes and breathed in... what was that faint perfume in the air? she smiled musingly and closed her eyes.

he was here.

yes he was.

she could tell.

she looked at the door for a few seconds.

then she got up and walked out of the room, smiling.

"aaj tera shadi hai, samjhi tu..." she told herself and stopped an auto rickshaw.

(today is your wedding, do you understand?)


***

the sound of shehnai filled the evening, a scent of fresh flowers made the air heady yet buoyant. guests had started arriving at shantivan. it was almost seven in the evening.

at the main doorway stood nk looking extremely handsome in a white sherwani of fine silver brocade and black churidar pyjama. he carried a long angvastra elegantly over a shoulder. he was accompanied by two lovely young girls, both teenagers, in vibrant lehenga cholis and lots of juniper gajra tucked in their hair. mitali and manjuri were cousins, they were mami ji's dear friend shobha's nieces and lived right next door. the party of three was assigned the task of welcoming guests, sprinkling them with a little rose water from silver containers and making sure they knew exactly where the cocktails and starters were being served, where the wedding mandap was, where the dinner would later start, etc.

anjali was walking around making sure everything was in order. she was feeling happy today. all her worries had been relegated to a distant back seat. chhotey was getting married. she grinned again at the thought. she had sat for almost an hour praying earlier in the day. she had spoken at length to maa. she had cried a little even, but she felt only elation, nothing else.

she had decided to wear one of maa's tissue banarasis this evening. it was a dark onion pink with silvery gold zari work all over. she matched it with a maroon velvet blouse with tiny flowers in sequins dotting its base and a fine edging of zardosi at the collars and sleeves. she had put her hair up in a formal chignon, on its side glinted a diamond encrusted hair ornament. large kundan earrings with dark pink and cobalt blue patterns and studded with uncut diamonds hung on her ears. she wore the necklace and bracelets that completed the set. stacks of thin gold bangles adorned her arms. her makeup was simple as usual, the lightest of lipsticks and a tiny sparkling gold bindi.

when she came to show nani ji how she was looking, hemangini raizada almost wept to see her granddaughter looking so pretty and in such high spirits. perhaps devi maiyya knew what was the best time for things to happen. when chhotey had said he'd marry in just seven days, she had been dazed and quite worried thereafter. then had come the revelations about damad ji. hemangini shook her head... anjali bitiya was grappling with such a shocking thing. and now a moment of unmitigated joy... perhaps the best thing she and everyone else could have asked for at this moment.

nani ji noticed her granddaughter was not wearing her mangalsutra. neither grandmother nor granddaughter spoke about it. clearly anjali had taken a decision and she was moving along a path she had chosen.

hemangini raizada looked resplendent even in unstarched plain chikan sarees, today in her favourite gara which was a pale shade of grey with ivory embroidery across the length of the saree, she looked regal and from a splendid era gone by. long strands of large basra pearls, pearl and diamond bracelets and ear rings complemented her elegant look. she sat at the first reception area for the guests making everyone comfortable, ensuring the waiters were taking the food and drinks around properly.

mama ji walked around and mingled with guests. extended family apart, akash and arnav's college friends, business associates, ar employees, models, designers, photographers and several well known people from the city were here. some invitees had also come from other cities. of course, payal and khushi's family and friends were also here.

mama ji was taking special care of them since he didn't want them to feel lost or awkward in any way. his brother in law masala, who despite his name and a fairly comical appearance, was a well known neurosurgeon based in bombay, tagged along with him.

bua ji wore her light mauve banarasi, which she had bought years ago during one of her anniversaries. she remembered going to india gate with phupha ji on that day and eating three mango duets. and when she saw the ice cream stall at the wedding in the lawn outside, her heart had filled with nostalgia... they even had mango duets. now bedi ji was standing before her, holding one out to her.

"arre bedi ji, hum kaisan abhi kha sakte hain... hum bua hain... saadi ke baad mein khayee hain... ee aap hi khay leo..." she said making a little moue and smiling at her neighbour.

(oh bedi ji, how can i eat now... i am the aunt... after the wedding i shall eat... you have this one...)

bedi ji almost melted faster than the ice cream and instantly started polishing it off.

mami ji sailed up to them and said, "aap bua hain toh hum ma hain aur mami hain... two two underisstandings? naats just ones." she was smiling sweetly with her very red lips, but her eyes held a little taunt under their layers of blue and gold eyes shadow and thick mascara and liner.

(if you are bua, i am mother and mami... two two understand? not just one.)

bua ji gaped at mami's ensemble of dark orange paithani with zardosi highlights all over. she noted, the colour was exactly that of payaliya's lehenga... huh, this was certainly no coincidence madhumati was sure. manorama wore a pink banarasi blouse covered with crystal. her jewellery was mainly of gold, and lots of it. madhumati squinted... there were at least four neck pieces, a choker, a necklace, then a long haar up to her waist and a thick plain gold chain.

bangles, bracelets, pinky rings sat on mami's arms and fingers and also a large ratanchur with its five rings anchored to a circular gold medallion of intricate filigree work. on her upper arms were tied elaborate mantashas with chains cascading from them. of course on her head was a full mang tika while chandeliers dangled from her ears attached to chains going up to her flouncy hair do. a wide belt of twenty four carat yellow gold peeped from under her pallu.

bua ji closed her eyes then blinked exaggeratedly and exclaimed, "ma, mami aur manorama golden store bhi... three three not two two, hain! and of course, bua can only be one, nand kissore... so special there is only one!"

(mother, mami and manorama gold store too... three three not two two, what! and of course, bua can only be one, nand kissore... so special there is only one!)

mami ji threw a snarky look and a "hoonh!" and left, her hips swinging from side to side, her hands stuck out like wings. mama ji, who had overheard the conversation, shook his head and asked if shashi ji would like a coffee and hopefully garima ji was comfortable and the brides had everything they needed in the guest room where they were waiting.

billo mausi assessed that there would be lots to talk about after this wedding and tucked in her silver pins. rajat ji had told her that he was sure khushi beta was eloping with a man, he had seen that fellow carrying her and striding out of gomti sadan.

billo mausi's heart had perked up at the possibility of chaos, but the moment she'd heard the description she knew who it was and she'd hurled, "aap bhi, rajat ji... luckiest girl she is, you know... that is the man who declared he wanted to marry her and that too within a week... so handsome... manly... hayee... and strong!"

rajat ji had not liked the sound of that last "strong" at all. handsome and manly were fine, but "strong" put a certain pressure on him.

her prying had revealed that khushi had gone to lucknow for some work, alas no gossip there, but right now what she'd witnessed, ah, mami and her hostess at each other's throats, that should be fun. billo mausi patted her bright green tanchoi banarasi and checked her bangles to see if she had remembered to wear all ten of them... solid gold they were, none of those stones and things in them. she was also pleased that rajat ji had brought with him the right big necklace she had asked him to get, the last time he had chosen the wrong one, the small light one, so embarrassing for her it had been, everyone thinking that was all she could afford. billo mausi smiled and reached for a badam sherbet from the tray the waiter held in front of her.

***
a hush fell across the house.

two young men stood at the top of the stairs.

one wore a regal off white brocade sherwani with a white churidar and a red and gold silk turban nattily tied, an emerald and diamond safa sparkling on it. on his feet were embroidered black mojaris.

the other wore a perfectly cut three piece steel grey fine woolen suit with a dazzling white egyptian cotton shirt and narrow hand stitched black silk tie. there was nothing on his head except for thick, dark hair with short sides and back impeccably cut. on his feet gleamed jet black shoes, church's oxfords.

akash singh raizada and arnav singh raizada, the grooms... had arrived.

as all eyes turned to them and sighs could be heard from certain corners, even catcalls from a couple of friends, anjali started to make her way toward them. her brothers walked down the stairs and flanked her. she gave each a quick hug and took them to the wedding mandap.

anjali had sat for hours making sure the mandap looked exactly as she had imagined. flowers in all the hues of orange, yellow, red and pink... carnations, roses, marigolds, orchids, irises, gladioli, haleconia and more cascaded from an octagonal structure made of pillars covered in white silk and white lotuses. skeins of silver yarn was shot into the garlands of flowers and yards of silk.

on the floor, there were six places, for the priest, the father of the brides and the two couples. each place had a slightly raised platform of pure silver with beaten repousse work. right in the centre was the havan area, the sandalwood already in place. the floor was covered with intricate rangoli done with rice flour paste in pure white.

large urlis filled with fresh flowers, petals and bel leaves were placed on two sides of the mandap so guests could throw the flowers like confetti on the couples during the important ceremony of taking pheras, the seven sacred circles around the havan fire while reciting vows.

as the bridegrooms approached, bua ji and one of khushi's chachis who had come from lucknow stepped forward and welcomed the young men with arati, the thalis with glowing diyas were turned before them three times, the elders blessed them and put bright vermillion tilaks on their foreheads.

"nand kissore!" bua ji beamed, "aaye gayo... come come, arnav babua, akas babua, sit..."

(nand kissore... you've come... come come arnav, akash, sit)

women ululated as the bridegrooms sat down.

the priest beckoned shashi babu to take his place and the rituals began. in chaste sanskrit, the priest recited lines, pausing from time to time to explain in hindi what was being said. the vidhi of vivah... wedding... started.

***
after a few minutes, the priest looked up at the women waiting by the mandap and announced, "please call the brides to the mandap."

pin drop silence greeted the words. then a rustle could be heard as a girl in light blue suddenly ran toward the stairs. kareena was dragging la along with her. la was in a startlingly beautiful black gown, off the shoulder and figure hugging. she wore large fire opal earrings and a bracelet of antique silver, her heels were tall and she tripped on the carpet and would have fallen flat had it not been for nk.

he stepped up quickly, holding her arm, "hey, watch it, are you okay?" he asked with a big happy smile.

lavanya looked at the handsome face untarnished and open, eyes full of fun, "thanks..." she smiled back at him.

"oh, er, hullo... i am nand kishore!" nk said.

lavanya looked slightly shocked. nand... gulp... kishore? well she could always make it... nk?

"i mean... nk... aap bahut budhia dikh rahi hai," nk went on, beaming at la.

(i mean... nk... you look very old.)

"er... i think you mean... badhia..." lavanya laughed and went ahead with kareena.

(er... i think you mean... great...)

kareena by now was quite impatient. the brides would be here any minute and khushi had told her to wait at the bottom of the steps for her, she wanted kareena and salman to walk with them to the mandap. and where was that salman, kareena fumed.

"don't fret, i'm here," salman whispered from behind her, kareena shot him a glare and her jaw almost hit the floor when she saw he was wearing jeans and a tee shirt. but there was no time to show her displeasure because two beautiful brides stood where just minutes before had stood two handsome bridegrooms.

index

chapter 45


 

not cut out for love: chapter 43

anjali woke up and grinned. chhotey was getting married today, in fact, this very evening. she lay in bed a moment longer to smile happily up at the ceiling while she patted her belly absentmindedly.

suddenly she frowned and pursed her lips, as a sense of urgency came rushing over her. there was a shaadi... no no no no... two weddings in their family today. what was she doing taking it easy and dreaming in bed!

she had to get up and organise the haldi rasam, the ritual had to be observed properly, anjali shuddered at the thought of anything, even the minutest detail, not done according to custom. these things were important. chhotey didn't understand.

she shook her head sitting up... it was the only ritual chhotey had agreed to other than the wedding rites themselves. if he had his way, she knew they would be sitting around a desk and signing papers in front of a colourless expressionless marriage registrar, that's all. really, chhotey was so... grey... about certain things.

again anjali made a face. but then her brow cleared. at least chhotey had decided to marry... to love... to trust.

anjali's thoughts went to sheesh mahal. growing up. chhotey always there, running after her, making sure she was okay... but there were the fights, maa and pita ji.

she swallowed hard. it was difficult... and chhotey never could stay immune to the discord, how could he... he was so young when the voices started filtering through the walls of maa and pita ji's room. he would come to her bedroom often at night and snuggle up next to her... while the voices soared and raged.

no, anjali shook her head, again unconsciously engrossed in thought... there was just one voice, you rarely could hear maa.

she shuffled toward her cupboard...

around the age of nine or ten, chhotey stopped coming to her, and she remembered his jaw seemed to set differently, harden, around that time too. a rigidity...

and then came the night when two gun shots finished everything.

it was too painful to ponder that night. anjali determinedly disentangled herself from her thoughts and reached for a bright yellow saree.

chhotey was getting married today and akash too... she had work to do.

mami ji walked into the room wearing a bright canary yellow kanjeevaram silk saree which she had had embroidered all over with fairly loud gold zardosi work. she wore a long heavy gold seeta haar on her neck extending all the way down to almost her waist, at least a dozen gold bangles of various thicknesses hung on her arms, not moving or making any noise because there was no place for them to even breathe as they jostled quietly for their perch on the neither too long nor too slim forearm. on her ears, manorama raizada wore large gold chandeliers with elaborate chains leading up to her large bun. and on her head shone a full mangtika, with its centre piece in pure filigreed gold, a glittering chain going along her parting to attach to the same bun at the nape of her not too long nor too slim neck. two chains fanned out from the centre along her hairline, dipping coyly over the forehead just a little and ending somewhere behind her ears.

"c'mans, anjali bitiya, let's hurry ups, bhe cants make the bwoyj waits... you cants eats bephore the ceremony, you knowj... my poor akas bitwa, supherrings already phor that honey beej... how they comings phram that ismall towns and isstings our high phalyings bwoyj!"

(c'mon, anjali, let's hurry up, we can't make the boys wait... they can't eat before the ceremony, you know... my poor akash, already suffering thanks to that honey bee... how they came from a small town and stung our high flying boys!)

anjali tried to hide her smile. mami ji was in form.

her eye shadow was glittery blue, her lipstick was bright coral. it was eight in the morning.
***

he answered the phone with a distracted air switching on his bluetooth ear piece as he buttoned his waistcoat. he looked somewhat sleepy still, though he had had a shower and was ready for the day.

"chhotey!" it was di, "tum kahaan ho? we must not be late for the haldi rasam, we have to start in a couple of hours and get the turmeric over to the brides' home before one o'clock... the mahurat ends at two, chhotey... where are you?!" she sounded excited happy and anxious, all at once.

asr walked to the window and looked out... a series of unfamiliar doors and windows were arrayed before him. the windows were opening, so were the doors, people were coming out and looking around, a monday morning was starting out in gomti sadan, it looked very different from the monday mornings he was used to.

"lucknow, di!" he said without thinking.

"what!!!!! kya kahaa tumne?" di sounded incredulous

(what!!!! what did you say?)

asr shrugged and replied in an even voice, "relax, di! it's okay... kuch kaam tha... i just wanted to make sure everything was in order... i'll be back a couple of hours... okay??"

(relax, di... there was some work... i just wanted to make sure everything was in order... i'll be back in about a couple of hours... okay??)

he had not told anyone at shantivan about khushi's disappearance or his trip to get her back. there was no point, they'd worry and the last thing he wanted was for di to get all tense. she had been going through too much lately.

"relax??? can you hear yourself talk? aaj tumhari shaadi hai... today is not like every other day that you fly off here and there the way you do, chhotey! it's perhaps the most important day of your life... oh chhotey, tum bhi na! i hope khushi doesn't know about this... she'd be so worried! now come back... don't be late... the haldi must touch your body before being taken across... that is the whole point... a little turmeric paste, auspicious and blessed, which has been on your person will be mixed into the bowl of turmeric paste we are getting ready for khushi... a sign of your presence in her life always, always by her side, protecting her, being there..." di was beginning to sound dreamy.

(relax??? can you hear yourself talk? it's your wedding today... today is not like every other day that you fly off here and there the way you do, chhotey!)

"di! did nirupa roy come up with this haldi ritual?" asr interrupted, trying to contain his laughter.

"chhotey!!!" di sounded scandalized. he burst out laughing.

the kabootar with beady red eyes flapped its wing and flew off. khushi came running from the bedroom clutching the keys to the house, they were supposed to leave soon.

asr coolly closed the deal, "if you don't put the phone down, di... how will i leave? i don't want to be late, you know!"

anjali shrieked, "chhotey!!!"

asr switched off the bluetooth with a laconic, "and don't worry about khushi, i've already spoken to her!"

he knew di would have a lot to say after that but he didn't want her to hear khushi's voice. he went up and put his forefinger on khushi's lips, shaking his head and telling her not to say anything.

khushi froze, his finger on her lips sent shivers up her spine.

but even standing a few feet away, she'd heard di's scream. her eyes went wide and faintly horror struck.

"hawww! aapne di ko kya bola?? she sounds so... so..." khushi protested, worried and almost accusing him, voice pitching up, the moment he disconnected.

(haww! what did you say to di?? she sounds so... so...)

"why do girls shriek so much?" asr replied buttoning the cuffs of his mauve shirt and perusing her slowly, eyes considering her red pompoms, moving up to her red jhumka and then with a satisfied smile coming to rest on the red red stone on her ring finger. he smiled ever so slightly. for some reason as he observed the several touches of red, those red flowers came to his mind, right by her nape... even her bindi was a deep carmine today.

and suddenly without warning, he was catching her hand and pulling her to him, "come here and shut up..." he whispered as he began kissing her.

khushi's eyes widened further... she pushed him with her hands on his chest and started mumbling even as his lips insisted on continuing with what they were doing.

"hum..ph..khu..ph..shi!!! kuma...phri... gu..phta... nahiiin gupta!..." she began her declaration, her chagrin rising along with her struggle to have her say, pronounce her name with clarity... with dignity.

"singh raizada!" he said clearly against her mouth and resumed kissing her thoroughly, this time making sure she couldn't speak or even breathe for that matter.

khushi had no idea when her arms had gone around his waist and she was holding him with all her might. her fingers had slipped under the waistband of his slim fitting trousers, she could feel firm flesh under the smooth material of his shirt and a slight curve that dipped down and then seemed to flare out. khushi melted against his reassuring unyielding body, she could feel herself flowing and beginning to not really care about anything... not even what he had just said.

a noise echoed in her ears... dhak dhak dhak dhak... whose heart was beating so fast? hers? or arnav ji's? what did it matter? was there any difference?

"khushi!" he seemed to whisper...

"...kumari gupta singh raizada," she said quickly, breaking the kiss for a fraction of a second and hurling the words quickly before going right back to the kiss.

asr felt his heart skip a beat.

and then she was flying out of his arms yelling, "hey devi maiyya, yeh humne kya keh diya... laad governor ke sirf doh naam... aur hum gupta bhi aur singh bhi aur raizada bhi!!! hey devi maiyya, raksha karna... itne naam leke hum karenge kya? hum bhi aise khadoos ho jaayenge... laad governor..."

(hey dm, now what have i done... laad governor has only two surnames... and i am gupta as well as singh and also raizada!!! hey devi maiyya, save me... what will i do with so many names? i'll also become terrible... lord governor...)

"magarmach?" asked the man behind her helpfully, dropping a kiss on her shoulder and saying briskly, "stop jabbering, khushi! let's go... got to reach in time for that haldi thing... take off is at 9.30..." he was shrugging on his brown jacket over his mauve shirt.

(crocodile?)

"take off? kya take off? i'm not taking anything off, samjhe aap?" khushi muttered defiantly. this man was too much, first he yelled at his sister, now he was saying awful things to her.

that too on his wedding day.

"nahin," she shook her head and thought, "hum bhi na!"  
(no... i'm silly!)

on their wedding day.

she was also getting married this evening.

her eyes grew so huge at the thought, asr wondered if something might be seriously wrong, then gauging the situation rightly, he calmly handed her his overnighter which she took without a word, took the keys from her unresisting fingers, propelled her out, locked the door, picked her up in his arms as he had been wanting to for some time and started walking out toward the suv parked outside gomti sadan.

at least a dozen pair of eyes followed him from the little verandahs, terraces and windows of the housing estate, with varying expressions.

rajat ji was rushing out to catch the train to new delhi, having been summarily beckoned by his wife to attend khushi and payal beti's shadi. when he saw the self assured man in a brown suit casually pick up gupta ji's younger daughter and with a little suitcase too, he almost called out. what was khushi doing here? rajat ji cleared his throat...

then something about the look on khushi beti's face and the stance of the man's back made him hold his tongue.

well, if khushi was eloping with another man on her wedding day, he rajat bhalla had better reach delhi soon, billo ji would need him... someone had to take the brunt of her extraordinary excitement at the occurrence of such a newsworthy event. plus, he had to make sure, she didn't completely demolish the reputation of their neighbours, he was very fond of shashi ji and garima ji and the girls were always pleasant.

asr walked fast, he could feel his heart beating erratically. he wondered if this were another sign of that thing called love. then he shook his head and thought, "what nonsense!"

the white pigeon flew past, no one noticed him.


***

"haye, main mar jawan, so he has taken hawai jahaaz to go and get her... what luck our khushi bitiya has, by god ji!" billo mausi gushed, then she narrowed her eyes, thrust her head forward, looked somewhat hungry and asked, "par... madhumati ji, what happened, haan ji, why did khushi have to go to lucknow suddenly, and that too without telling you all, you know?"

(oh... i could die!... so he has taken a plane to go and get her...)

her concentration was utter as she peered closely at her hostess's face. she didn't want to miss a thing... a hair pin fell off her juda, she didn't notice.

bua ji smiled brightly at billo ji.

then she swung both her hands in the air in the age old gesture of protecting from the evil eye and brought her hands back to her temples cracking her knuckles, and said beaming,

"arre billo ji, ee sanka devi bhi... i only had told her some time ago that i had left my light pink banarsi saree in lucknow, nand kissore... last time i went there... parmeswari went off to get that, bas!... so i can wear it for the weddings... two of them... haan!" madhumati paused, her eyebrows leapt up and down contemplating the beauty of this very special occasion, her locket got into position horizontal, her plait swung, "you know what a kindhearted and very caring girl our titaliya is... but, hai re nand kissore, how to make her understand she could not take the night train alone to come back, not safe these days... good thing, damad ji came and then phurrr flew off!"

billo ji had a feeling the truth was being kept from her, but the very thought of a man leaping into a plane, that too his own plane, to get his lady love back, gave her such palpitations, she settled back in her verandah chair and fanned herself with her pallu and wondered if rajat ji would ever do this for her.


***
"seat belt!" asr said in his usual curt way.

khushi was beginning to feel a strange feeling as captain raina started to taxi down the runway. she gulped violently, her finger fumbled with the hard metal end of the belt, trying to find the slot.

asr looked at her with a frown and fixed the belt, then turned away settling into his seat... he was planning to catch up on some sleep for the next hour.

but khushi was unusually silent.

he waited a couple of minutes, she remained silent. he put his finger under her chin and turned her to face him, "what's up, khushi kumari gupta!" he asked briskly.

there was no quick comeback of "singh raizada!" nor any flash of ire or mischief or anything in the large hazel eyes.

asr waited...

"nahin woh..." khushi mumbled under her breath and quickly looked away... she could feel tears smarting her eyes. what was wrong with her!

(no... that...)

"look at me!" he said sternly, khushi did as she was told... her red jhumkas and pompoms swinging.

"now tell me!" he commanded, there was a gentleness in his eyes, but khushi was looking at his third shirt button trying to gather herself.

his shirt was the colour of those light skinned baingans bua ji loved so much. she liked the brinjals fried with a tadka of mustard seeds and fenugreek, just a pinch of asafoetida and some dry red chillies with it... her eyes traveled up the buttons to his his firm chin and kept moving up to his face.

she gulped again. arnav ji looked so nice in this brinjal colour.

"kya baat hai, khushi?" he prompted once more, this time his voice had a trace of that concern so visible in his eyes.

(what's the matter, khushi?)

"aapko baingan pasand hai?" khushi asked

(do you like brinjal?)

"it's okay, khushi... just tell me, dammit!" he replied beginning to bristle.

khushi swallowed hard, her eyes filling with the tears that had been bothering her... "hum... hum...waise lucknow ke hain... aur aaj ke baad..." a sob escaped her. it had begun to descend on her that this was the last time she was leaving her home, her city... as she was. as she had been, all her life. khushi kumari gupta, gupta ji and his wife's flighty, slightly crazy but nonetheless lovable, younger daughter. just about twenty years old, talking nonstop, loads of plans and dreams.

(i... i...  am actually from lucknow... and after today...)

"khushi!" in a moment she was in his arms...

"you will always be who you are, impossible and pagal khushi kumari gupta..." asr said in a gruff voice.

"and lucknow... well, all you have to do is take the plane and come... whenever you like, darling..." as asr heard himself speak he had a feeling this was definitely a sign of love. damn, this was going to be hard to live with.

khushi wriggled and looked up at him, large eyes beginning to look a little happier.

asr wondered if there was any way he could control the barrage of feelings blocking all normal thinking. obviously, it was futile, and being a shrewd businessman he let it be, no point in expending energy when failure was inevitable.

"humey aur hawai jahaaz mein dar nahin lagta," khushi whispered, gripping his hand. very very tight.

(i don't feel scared in a plane any more...)

he remembered that very first time she had sat in this plane. she had held his hand just like that. even then, he hadn't minded...


***
"can't decide what i should wear to the two weddings, salman... help me!" kareena said to her friend.

"how about jeans and a tee shirt," came the murmurred reply, salman didn't even bother to lift his eyes from the drawing before him.

"sahreee, ma cherie," offered a familiar voice with its not very indian accent. it was jean pierre... he had just strolled into their room and he was regarding kareena with an amused pair of very bright eyes.

"and wiz your kind of colours, i seenk a pale powdery blue you know ze kind ze royalty, when eet still reigned, preferred... blue wiz a beet of seelver sequins will work just perfectly... what do you seenk, salman?" jean pierre was specific. kareena stared dumbfounded.

salman looked from one to the other for a moment and went right back to his drawing.

kareena blinked. what was jp saying?

jean pierre wondered if this were a good time to tell her, he had got a nice length of chamois satin in the palest smoothest blue on khushi and his chandni chowk trip and he'd actually had a seamstress scatter sequin across it the way he thought it would look good on this beautiful brown skinned girl staring at him.

amore seemed to have struck. salman sighed and thought, "i needed to work. some serious real work."


***

captain raina landed in delhi. it was eleven hundred hours, five minutes past. it had been a good flight, the skies had been particularly blue and clear.

index

chapter 44