Later that night:
“So, what are you wearing?”
“Don’t you ever get tired of asking me that?”
“No. Now tell me.”
“I’m not going to tell you.”
“Does that mean you are wearing something different tonight?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. You’ll never find out.”
“I can always come there and see for myself.”
“You can’t come here!”
“Why not?”
“Because everyone will know! Amma, Bauji and..”
“Not if I climb in through your window.”
“You wouldn’t do that!”
“I will. If you don’t answer me right now.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Really? Okay,then. See you in a few minutes.”
“No! Arnavji, wait!”
“When will you stop calling me Arnavji?”
“What? I..I don’t know. It just doesn’t seem right to call you by your name..”
“Why not? I do. In fact, I’m the only man in Shantivan who calls you Khushi, without the Ji.”
“I’ve never thought about it..but you’re right, Nanheji and Shyamji, they all call me Khushiji..”
“Speaking of Shyam, I have this feeling he’s up to something again.”
“Really? But why? We’re getting married, that’s what they wanted, right?”
“I guess..I’ll still keep an eye on him, though.”
“I still find it hard to believe that he and Nani did all that.”
“You heard them, didn’t you? Don’t worry, if they try anything, I’ll know immediately. Now will you tell me what you are wearing or should I come there?”
“I’m wearing my nightsuit! The blue one again. Are you happy now?”
“I’ll be happier when you’re out of it.”
“Arnavji!! Why do you always say things like that?”
“Because I know it makes your cheeks pink. And your nose, as well. And also because I know you like it.”
“I don’t!”
“Yes, you do.”
“Why did you call me ?”
“To ask you what you are wearing,of course.”
“Arnavji !!”
“Fine! I did have a reason.”
“What is it?”
“Di has planned the Havan for tomorrow evening. She was ecstatic, specially after I told her that it was Mamaji who was going to London.”
“Tomorrow evening ? So I won’t see you till then?”
“Eager to meet me, Ms.Gupta?”
” In your dreams, Mr. Raizada.”
“That’s where you always are, these days.”
“And what am I usually doing there?”
“Continuing where we left off in the gazebo , of course.”
Khushi put the phone down .
How did he manage to do that every single time?
She should be used to it by now ,but when she heard him say those naughty things in that husky voice of his, she didn’t know how to reply.
By next week though, he wouldn’t just be saying these things, would he?
They would have their Suhaag Raat.
She wondered what it would be like. Would she feel the same sensations, the same flood of emotions like she did in the gazebo?
She blushed again at her thoughts, and went over to her window.
Did all girls feel like this?
Apprehensive, nervous and excited, all at the same time ?
She suddenly felt an intense longing to be in his arms.
But she wouldn’t even see him until tomorrow evening .
He hadn’t made any plans for the rest of the day. Of course, he had to go in to work, he didn’t just sit at home all day, did he?
And she had a lot to do, as well. Her etiquette teacher would be here in the morning , then there was the shopping, and finally the havan in the evening .
It was going to be a busy day. And yet, she couldn’t help but wish that she could meet him.
She went to sleep with a smile on her lips, dreaming of her Laad Governor.
Arnav paced by the poolside, unable to sleep.
He wouldn’t see her until the havan tomorrow evening.
Why did that fact bother him so much?
He had been away from her before, for longer periods of time. Why did he feel so restless now?
He went in to his room and sat down on his bed.
Soon, she would be here, sharing his room, and his life.
He couldn’t wait.
Arnav went to sleep with a smile on his face as well, dreaming of long hair spread across his pillow.
“Khushi, stop staring, and start trying on a few lehengas!”
Khushi stared with wide eyes at the multitude of colours and patterns.
She had never been to a store like this before. Lavanyaji had said that this was where she had bought her wedding dress, and apparently so did most of Delhi’s elite.
Wherever she looked, there were well-dressed women dripping with diamonds, trying on the exclusive designer lehengas.
But Amma was right, they had very little time, and she had to make her choice soon.
She looked around the store, and a red lehenga caught her eye. Of course! She would start with Arnavji’s favorite colour.
She called the salesgirl over, asking her if she could try the lehenga on the mannequin.
The sales girl took the lehenga off the mannequin, and pointed Khushi in the direction of the fitting-room.
Khushi took one step inside the fitting room, and stopped.
With the mirrors on every side, and the decorative chains lining the entrance, this fitting room brought back memories.
Memories of another fitting room where she had dressed in a beautiful lehenga.
A fitting room where cruel words had destroyed the dreams which hadn’t even blossomed yet.
A fitting room that had brought tears to her eyes, and forced her to face reality.
She took a step back, suddenly afraid.
She couldn’t do this!
She looked up and down the hallway leading into this room. There was no one.
It was irrational to be scared of a room, she knew it, but she couldn’t help it.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped back into the room, and looked at herself in the mirror.
Her reflection showed her a woman with wide, scared eyes, clutching the lehenga to her chest while breathing rapidly.
Why was she so afraid?
She closed her eyes, then immediately wished she hadn’t.
The memories rushed back to taunt her.
A tip, not a gift.
You can’t afford this.
Tears.
Heartbreak.
And then, she was jerked back to reality as suddenly everything changed.
With her eyes still closed, she felt a hand take the lehenga from her.
It could only be him.
She could feel him, even with her eyes closed.
He pulled her back against his chest. Taking both her hands in his, he placed their intertwined fingers against her waist.
She still didn’t open her eyes.
Not even when she felt him kiss her neck.
He kissed his way up to her ear, and bit her ear lobe gently.
She gasped and opened her eyes, only to have him place a hand over them.
She felt him take her dupatta off her body.
What was he doing?
She had her answer the next moment, as she felt her dupatta go over her eyes.
Why was he blindfolding her?
“Ar..Arnavji?”
He didn’t say a word. just turned her around, and pushed her until she was backed up against the mirror.
He held the back of her head in one hand, and her waist with the other.
And kissed her.
Deeply, passionately.
Until she couldn’t breathe.
She could feel every inch of his body, and clutched his back for support as the sensations overwhelmed her.
Sensations that were heightened because her vision was non-existent.
He caressed her waist, then trailed his fingers upwards, without breaking the kiss.
When he finally pulled away, she collapsed against the mirror, feeling lightheaded and weak.
He steadied her for a minute, then reached up to remove her blindfold.
She blinked her eyes to clear them, then looked at him.
He was watching her, his eyes searching hers for something.
She finally understood.
He had come here, done this because he knew.
Because he remembered too.
A soft smile curved her lips, and he reached out to trace her lips with his fingers.
He smiled, too, and then turned to pick up the lehenga and handed it to her.
She took it from him, her earlier apprehension now replaced with memories, and sensations of their kiss.
He stared at her , then turned around and left.
It was then that she realised that he hadn’t said a word.
He didn’t need to.
She tried on the lehenga, the fitting room no longer a cruel reminder of harsh words.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she realized that she liked the lehenga,but it wasn’t special enough.
She went out to the bridal floor again.
He was still there, talking to Amma.
Their gazes met, and she blushed as his eyes dropped to her lips.
The salesgirl approached, and Khushi told her which ones she wanted to try on next.
“Sure, Ma’am, I’ll bring them to the fitting-room. You should have told me earlier that you were Mr.Raizada’s fiancee! You don’t have to worry about anything, just keep trying them on until you find the ones you like, I’m sure Mr.Raizada will take care of the rest, right?”
Khushi stiffened.
The salesgirl was looking at Arnavji, obviously expecting him to agree.
Khushi thought he would, too.
She didn’t want him paying for anything.
She opened her mouth to say that she would be paying for the dresses herself, but he spoke before she could say a word.
“My fiancee can take care of everything herself. Am I right, Rani Sahiba?”
Ignoring the stunned salesgirl, he turned to Amma.
“I’ll see you in the evening, Aunty.”
He looked at Khushi for a long moment, then turned and walked out.
Khushi realized what he had just done.
He had given her the power of making her own choices.
He had acknowledged the fact that she could afford to buy the clothes, just like she wanted.
He had respected her independence, her self-esteem and her pride.
He had wiped away that earlier humiliating memory, to be replaced by this gesture.
And he had done it all without saying anything to her.
She smiled, and turned back towards the fitting room.
Arnav got into his SUV, leaned his head against the steering wheel and closed his eyes.
When he had found out that she was shopping at this exclusive store, he had immediately realised exactly what she would remember, the moment she stepped into the fitting rooms.
He had abandoned his meeting and rushed here, only to find his worst fears coming true.
She had been standing there with her eyes squeezed shut, as if she was facing the fires of hell.
He knew what he had done to make her react this way.
Was there no end to this?
He had done so many things to her, and even though he now regretted every one of them, the scars were plain to see.
He had tried to make her forget, and hoped that he had succeeded.
He raised his head.
Arnav Singh Raizada made a promise to himself, he would make sure all her memories from this point on were good memories, memories of love and laughter.
And nothing else.
Later that evening, he was abruptly reminded of this promise when he saw Khushi.
At first, he couldn’t take his eyes off her, as she entered the living room wearing a pale yellow saree and delicate silver jewellery.
She looked gorgeous, but fragile and delicate at the same time.
And then, he saw her face.
She was staring at the fire in the havan kund, and her expression was similar to the one she had on her face this morning, when he had found her at the door to the fitting-room.
But why?
This morning, he had known the reason .
Now, he had no clue.
Why would the sight of the fire make her look like she would rather be anywhere but here?
It had to be something that had happened in the past, something that brought back a bad memory..
But what?
The last pooja she had attended here was the one where he had given her the bangles..surely that wouldn’t provoke this kind of reaction?
No, it had to be something before that, something related to another similar pooja, or havan..
And then it hit him.
The day of another pooja, when he had been by his poolside.
Khushi, crashing into him.
Then bursting into tears when he questioned her.
Finally admitting that her fiance had done..something..
He realized that must have been the day she found out about Shyam.
He wasn’t a hundred-percent certain, but what else could it be?
And now, something had made her recall that day.
He looked at her now, seated beside Di in front of the fire, her hands joined together in a gesture of reverence.
Her outward appearance betrayed nothing, but he knew her.
He knew she was disturbed.
And he knew he had to do something to make it right.
But what?
He looked at Shyam, sitting behind Di.
Although he knew his intentions were good, he was still irked by the fact that Shyam had tried to manipulate hm.
And he had taken Khushi for a ride, as well.
He straightened up from the pillar he was leaning against as an idea flashed through his mind.
Could he really do that?
Would she agree?
Would it help in cheering her up, as he intended?
He thought it would, because it would appeal to her naughty side..
It was time to find out.
Khushi kept her eyes closed and tried to close her mind as well.
She didn’t know why her mind chose this day, and this moment, to remind her of that day.
The day when she had found out about Shyamji.
Now that she knew that it had all been an act, she expected it to hurt less.
But somehow, the general atmosphere and Shyamji’s presence had combined to bring back those recollections.
Only the fact that she knew Arnavji was here kept her from panicking.
Finally, the havan was done, and the Panditji got up to offer prasad to everyone.
Khushi was startled out of her wits when her cellphone beeped to signal an incoming message.
She picked it up quickly, and looked around.
Luckily, no one had noticed.
She opened the message, her eyes widening as she read the contents.
She looked up at Arnav, who was standing near a pillar.
Was he serious?
Did he really want her to…
When he saw her looking, he smirked.
She looked back down at her phone, and typed a reply.
When he read it, he raised his eyes to hers again.
It was her turn to smile this time.
He nodded, then turned around and left.
She took a deep breath.
Could she do this?
She knew what Arnavji’s intentions were, of course..but what if…
No, for once in her life she wouldn’t worry about the consequences.
She would just do what he had suggested.
She smiled again, a wicked glint in her eyes making them sparkle.
Shyam ate the prasad, staring at his wife all the time.
She really was so beautiful, and today she looked even more so…
He couldn’t wait till they were done with all this and they were back in their room so he could..
His thoughts were cut short abruptly as he heard a soft voice.
“Shyamji?”
“Kh..Khushiji?”
“Could I speak to you for a minute?”
“S..sure..go ahead..”
“Not here. Can you come to the terrace?”
“Wh..what?”
“I’ll wait for you there..please don’t disappoint me!”
Shyam stared after Khushi, dumbfounded.
Why had she asked him to meet her on the terrace?
What was the meaning of all this?
He wasted no time in walking over to Nani and telling her everything, and waited for her reaction.
Naniji thought for a moment, and then looked at him.
“Apparently, they know nothing about our scheme. They still think you are in love with Khushi bitiya..and I guess we have to play along. Which means that you will have to meet her on the terrace, and find out what she wants.”
“What?! Are you sure?”
“Yes, we need to know what she has planned. Now go soon, and you can tell me later what happened there.”
“I can’t believe it. I wish I’d never agreed to any of this!”
Shyam turned around and headed for the terrace stairs.
He should never have gotten involved in all this in the first place.
But now that he was knee-deep in this convoluted scheme, he had to see it through till the end.
He hated it.
He reached the terrace, and saw her immediately.
She was standing with her back to him, but turned around immediately when she heard him approach.
He barely had any time to think of anything to say, when she spoke up.
“Why, Shyamji?”
“Why? Wh..what do you mean?”
“You swore that you loved me, that you couldn’t live without me. Then why have you never come near me, or spoken to me even once in the past few days?”
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Love,Lies And Two Weddings? 