Chapter 18 – Haldi Ve

 

“You!!”

 

“Yes, it’s me. Who else could it be?”

 

 

‘You scared the life out of me! Why did you do that?”

 

 

“Relax, Khushi. I wanted to get you out here, that’s all.”

 

“Arnavji, you’re crazy! I’m going back!”

 

She had barely taken one step before she was pulled back against him, her back hitting his chest as his arms went around her waist.

 

 

“You’re not going anywhere. I didn’t go to all that trouble having the electricity turned off, only for you to run away. I wanted to be with you.”

 

“You did that? But why? We’ve been together all evening!”

 

 

“But we’ve always been with other people. I wanted to spend some time alone with you, specially after Nani told me that we wouldn’t see each other after tonight, until we meet again at the wedding mandap.”

 

“But the electricity is back now! They will look for us!”

 

“I don’t care. Do you realize, this is the last time I will hold you as my fiancee?”

 

Khushi was suddenly aware of how her body was plastered against his. She could feel his heartbeat, and hear him breathe against her ear as he whispered, 

 

“I want to kiss you one last time, before you become my wife.”

 

She whispered back, “Why?”

 

“Because that is the significance of this ceremony. The mehendi is supposed to mark you as mine..but I’m going to do it my way.”

 

“Wh..what do you mean?”

 

He didn’t answer, bending down to kiss her neck instead.

She closed her eyes and leaned back against him, powerless to resist his seductive touch.

He placed light kisses along the deep neckline of her blouse, until he reached her hair, which she had left unbound.

He lifted the ebony waves in one hand, exposing the back of her neck.

She kept her eyes closed, waiting to see what he would do next..

He kissed the back of her neck  once, then twice.

And then he bit lightly into the skin there.

Her eyes shot open, and she gasped at the strange combination of pain and pleasure.

 

“Arnavji!!”

 

He didn’t speak for a moment, his lips soothing the spot.

Then he raised his head and whispered,

 

“Now I’ve marked you as mine..our very own private mehendi.”

 

He turned her in his arms until she was facing him, and pulled her close.

 

He leaned in to kiss her, but she quickly placed a finger on his lips to stop him.

 

“We should go back now…”

 

He gave her no chance to continue, and kissed her deeply.

When he finally pulled away, they were both breathless.

 

Khushi opened her eyes, and stepped out of his embrace quickly.

She blushed as she realized he was still staring at her lips.

 

“I’m going back now..”

 

She didn’t wait for a reply as she lifted her lehenga in both hands and walked quickly towards the seating area.

She went back to the henna artist and sat down again, apologizing for the delay.

As the mehendi was applied on her hands, she was aware of his gaze on her, and was also conscious of the slight twinge of pain at the spot where he had kissed her.

She tried not to look up at him, but failed to do so, and they stared at each other across the gardens, bound by the memory of the recent interlude.

 

 

 

 

She continued to think of that moment in the darkness, even as she lay down to sleep that night.

They hadn’t spoken again after that, and she had made sure that he had never gotten close enough to look at her hands.

But she knew he would call her now, just like everyday.

As if on cue, her phone rang, and she answered it quickly.

 

“Hi.”

 

For some reason, she felt unusually  shy today, and paused to gather her thoughts before she spoke.

 

“I had to  turn on the speaker, because I have mehendi on my hands..”

 

“Does that mean I have to watch my words?”

 

“Maybe..”

 

“Don’t worry, I have a genuine reason for calling. I wanted to talk to you about our wedding.”

 

“Our wedding?”

 

“Khushi, I’ve tried to make all these ceremonies special for you..and I realize that you probably want a grand wedding too, complete with alll the bells and whistles..but I had a suggestion, and I need to know what you think.”

 

“Arnavji, I loved the sangeet, and the mehendi today, I’m sure your plans will be just as good for the wedding itself!”

 

“If we have a big wdding with a large number of guests, I’m afraid that the actual ritual will get lost in the chaos. I know how important this is for you, and I don’t want that to happen. There’s also the fact that keeping the media away from this event will be an uphill task.”

 

“So what do you want to do about that?”

 

 

“I want us to have a private ceremony at Shantivan, attended only by our close family and relatives. And then, in a few days we will organize a reception for everyone else, and it will certainly be a grand affair. What do you think?”

 

Khushi thought about this for a moment. Did it really matter if the wedding itself was an intimate ceremony? All she wanted was to take the saath phere with him, that was the most important thing, wasn’t it?

 

 

“It sounds good to me, Arnavji. I just want our families to be there with us, it doesn’t really matter where and how we get married..”

 

“I’m happy you feel that way..but I need to know for sure, I don’t want you to regret any of this later on..”

 

“I won’t. I’m sure, Arnavji.”

 

“Well, if you’re sure, then I’ll call Aman right away and ask him to get started on the preparations right away. We only have one day left, that’s hardly enough time.”

 

“Arnavji..aren’t you…forgetting something?”

 

“Forgetting what?”

 

 

“You…you didn’t..didn’t ask me what I’m wearing..”

 

 

“That’s because in one more day, I’ll be able to answer that question myself.”

 

“And so will I.”

 

 

He laughed.

“Goodnight, Khushi, let me get to work.”

 

 

“Goodnight, Arnavji.”

 

“Dream of me.”

 

 

 

She put the phone down with a smile on her face, and thought about what he’d just said as she lay back down.

 

Khushi fell asleep almost immediately, exhaustion setting in as soon as she closed her eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

____________

 

On the Shantivan terrace

 

“Are you sure this is our only option?”

 

“Yes.There is no other way.”

 

 

“It’s not going to be easy.”

 

“When was it ever easy?”

 

“It’s only going to be the two of us, right?”

 

“What do you think?”

 

 

 

______________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Hello hi bye bye, we need to put this on your face!”

 

Arnav stared at the yellow paste, horrified.

Di had woken him early this morning, and he had barely enough time to take a shower before she had come into his room, insisting on dragging him down here, where Mamiji, Nani, and Payal waited with the haldi.

He had allowed Di and Nani to put it on his hands, but there was no way he was getting that stuff on his face!

 

“Do we really need to do this? And why do you need to put that much paste on my face?”

 

“It is part of the rasam, bitwa. I’m sure even Phatti Saree is doing the same at her home..”

 

Arnav stood up abruptly.

 

“I’ve never said this to you before, but it’s time to end this now. I never want to hear that name again. Khushi is coming here as a daughter-in-law, giving up her own family and friends to be with me, and she deserves some respect in this house!”

 

“Arnav bitwa, I never knew that you were offended by that name! It has become a habit if mine, but I will try to stop referring to her that way..But you have to remember, she might be giving up a lot to come here, but she’s gaining so much in return. The Raizada name, the wealth…”

 

“She doesn’t need those.”

 

“What?”

 

“She doesn’t need those. Do you know who she really is?”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

They listened, spellbound, as Armav told them the true story of Khushi’s past, including the fact that she was descended from royalty, and was in fact, an heiress.

When he was finished, he stared directly at Mamiji, who looked shell-shocked.

 

“So you see, Khushi is not just giving up her home, she will also leave behind her title when she marries me tomorrow. And she is doing all this so that she can be my wife, and a member of this household. She will be Mrs.Arnav Singh Raizada, and she is going to be treated that way!”

 

Naniji and Di spoke simultaneously, “But Chotey..”

 

“Chotey, why haven’t you told us this before?”

 

“Because Khushi is still not comfortable with the whole thing. It has only been a short while since she has received this news, and I wanted to give her the time and space she needed before revealing this to everyone.”

 

“Our Khushi bitiya is a princess? I still can’t believe it..”

 

“Khushiji must have been shocked to find out about her parents..”

 

“I would appreciate it if you all would refrain from talking about this when she is here. At least until she is ready to share this with everyone.”

 

“I don’t have a problem with that. I won’t be here anyway to say Hello hi bye bye.”

 

Arnav frowned.

 

“Why not?”

 

“Didn’t NK tell you? I’m going back with him to Australia, to visit my sister. I’ll stay there until your Mamaji returns from London.”

 

“You are going to Sydney? When did you decide to do this?”

 

“A few days back. It was all Sasuma’s idea!”

 

 

Arnav looked at Nani, who looked away suddenly.

Had he imagined that glint in her eye?

 

“So when are you leaving?”

 

“After your wedding, of course. In fact, my flight is on the same day when Anjali bitiya is going to her new home.”

 

 

“That’s a remarkable coincidence..”

 

Arnav looked at Nani again. Did she have something to do with this?

Her next words confirmed his suspicions.

 

“That is also the day when I will be leaving for my trip to Haridwaar, Chotey. You know that, don’t you? “

 

So that was her plan! 

She had methodically made sure that all family members left Shantivan for a while, soon after he married Khushi.

Had she planted the idea in Di’s mind too?

And did she have a scheme to get Akash and Payal out of the house as well?

Not that it made any difference now.

In fact, he was happy about the fact that Khushi and he would have the house to themselves.

 

“Of course,Nani. I hope you all enjoy yourselves. And now, are we done here? I can’t wait to get back to my room and wash myself.”

 

“Yes, Chotey, you can go now.”

 

As he turned for the stairs, he saw Nani giving him a speculative look.

She might be clever, but he had always managed to figure out her schemes.

He smirked, and headed to his room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later that evening, Khushi sat in her living room, dressed in a light yellow saree with a sleeveless blouse.

Her arms, legs and face were covered with haldi.

Amma, Buaji and Payal had been the first to apply it, followed by Preeto and then her neighbours.

That reminded her of Vimla Maasi, who had giggled while smearing the paste on her cheek.

Why did she keep doing that? She had to ask her one of these days.

 

She sighed. 

 

It had been a long day. She had started packing the dresses she had bought over the past few days, and had gotten most of it done before being interrupted by the call from the Trust’s lawyer, Godwani.

The lawyer had been in touch with her constantly over the last few days, informing her that her late mother’s inheritance had now been returned to her in it’s entirety.

But today, he had called her to let her know that he had received the invitation to their reception, and had assured her that he would be there.

Khushi had been surprised, before realizing that Arnavji must have sent him the invitation.

 

Arnavji..

 

She sighed again.

She hadn’t spoken to him since last night, and had wondered throughout the day about what he might be doing.

She missed him.

Seeing him, talking to him everyday had become an essential part of her life, and her day now felt incomplete without his presence.

 

She looked around her, wondering when she could go to her room and call him.

She had enjoyed this ceremony too, but she was exhausted, and wanted to go to sleep soon.

Not before talking to him, though.

 

 

It was another hour before she entered her room, and headed for the bathroom with the intention of washing off the haldi.

Her phone rang, and she walked over to it, picking it up gingerly.

 

“Hello?”

 

“So your haldi ceremony is finally over.”

 

“Arnavji? How do you know that?”

 

 

“You’re back in your room, aren’t you?”

 

“Yes, but how do you know all this?”

 

“I saw the light in your room turn on just now.”

 

 

“You saw…”

 

She whirled around, searching her room for any signs of his presence.

 

 

“How can you see that? Are you here? But Arnavji, we are not supposed to see each other before the wedding!”

 

 

“Relax. I can’t see you. Come to your window.”

 

 

She walked to her window, and saw the white SUV parked outside.

 

“Are you in your car?”

 

“No, I’m right outside your window. I’m standing against the wall, you won’t be able to see me.”

 

“But why are you doing this? Why didn’t you just call me from your house?”

 

 

“I have my reasons.”

“You do?”

 

 

“Do you remember our private sangeet by the poolside?”

 

“Yes, but what…”

 

 

“And do you remember our private mehendi yesterday?”

 

She blushed, and raised her fingers to the mark on the back of her neck, hidden by her hair.

 

 

“Y..yes.”

 

 

“I’m here for our private haldi ceremony.”

 

 

“What?! But I told you, we can’t see each other!”

 

 

“When did I say we would?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PS: In the show, I found it very odd that they kept repeating that the bride and groom shouldn’t see each other after the haldi, and yet Arnav and Khushi ended up alone, in her bedroom.

That is why I’m writing my version.

I know that most of you loved that Haldi episode, but I hope you’ll like my next update too!

 

 

New readers, please buddy me for PMs of updates.