Chapter 22

Arnav’s room, Shaantivan:

Arnav woke up on the day of his wedding after a restless night.

Today is the seventh day. Today is the happiest day and the saddest day of his life.

Today he will finally marry the love of his life and today, at the stroke of midnight, as per Lachhi’s promise, Khushi will leave him forever.

Tormented at the thought, he got out of the bed and walked up to the poolside. He could already hear the hustle bustle of people downstairs, all excited about the wedding.

But his heart is dreading it’s heartbeat as every passing second is bringing the end of the day closer.

Suddenly he hears a lot of giggles and chatter coming out of Khushi’s room. He walks across the poolside and sees Anjali and Payal are teasing Khushi, making her giggle and in return, Khushi is teasing Payal making her blush.

He looked at the happy scene and promised Khushi silently: As long as I’m alive, nothing will take you away from me. I promise you Khushi.

Anjali looks up to see Arnav is standing in front of the window. She hides her smile and walks over there to tease Arnav: Chotey? Aren’t you up too early today? What is the matter? Getting too impatient to marry?

Arnav smiles sadly at Anjali: Di, I need to talk to you. Can you come out?

Arnav’s smile seems a bit different to Anjali. So she stops teasing him and comes to the poolside.

Anjali walks up to him: What is the matter, Chotey?

Arnav turns to Anjali: Di, I need your help.

Anjali asks worriedly: What happened? What can I help you with?

Arnav (seriously): I want you to make sure that today either you or me will be with Khushi all day. She is never to be left alone.

Anjali gets even more worried: What is the matter? Why are you making this request?

Arnav pleads: I can’t tell you the reason now. But please Di, do it for me.

Anjali agrees: Okay Chotey. I will do it.

Arnav (relieved): Thanks Di.

Anjali gives a tight smile and leaves the poolside.

Living Room, Shaantivan:

Anjali comes to the living room and asks Naniji: Nani, I have a request for you.

Naniji looks up from the Haldi preparation: What is it Anjali bitiya?

Anjali asks: Nani, since Khushi and Payalji are both here, why not do their Mehendi together with Chotey and Aakash?

Naniji worried: But bitiya, how is that possible?

Anjali assures: It is possible Nani. We will put a curtain between them so that they can’t see each other and then we will have fun together.

Naniji thinks about it for a moment and then says: Okay. If that’s what you want, I suppose we can do it.

Anjali smiles: Thanks Nani.

She then picks up her phone and texts Arnav the new plan.

Arnav texts back Thank you.

Arnav’s Room, Shaantivan

Arnav sends out Thanks to Anjali and then calls Angad: Angad, I want you to get all your men and personally cover my wedding in plain clothes from now until tonight. Make sure whoever you bring to my home, you can personally vouch for them. If needed, hire people from your army and navy seal background. Don’t worry about the pay. I will cover for all of their salaries. But I want ultimate protection in my home today around my family, in particularly around my bride.

Angad replies: ASR, we are not preparing for a battle. Why do we need army or navy seal trained people?

ASR bites out: Just do as I say, Angad.

Angad sighs: As you wish, ASR.

Arnav hangs up his phone and thinks to himself: How do I tell you Angad, this is the battle for my life and I can’t afford to lose it.

Guestroom, Shaantivan

Khushi got dressed up in palest matt gold saree with thin red border and Payal wore a pink saree with lavender border.

Anjali arrived with Naniji, Mamiji, Garima and Buaji to take both the brides to the living room where the ceremony will take place.

As Khushi comes down the stairs, she notices a red and gold embroidered chiffon saree is separating the living room in two sides.

Khushi asks Anjali: Di, why do you have that saree in the middle of the room?

Suddenly NK pops up from behind the curtain: Khushiji, that’s because Naniji has allowed us all to have haldi together.

Khushi (wide eyed): What?

Payal blushes as she spots Aakash behind the saree.

Anjali tells Khushi: Actually Khushiji, I will be doing Haldi for both of you and so will Naniji. So we can’t run around all day. That’s why, we thought it will be easy for us if the Haldi ceremony happens together, then we can go back and forth and get both of your haldi done.

Khushi smiles at Anjali: No problem Di. Whatever is easy for you to do. I’m glad you are doing Jiji and my Haldi too.  

Anjali smiles at Khushi and then spies Arnav behind the saree. She sees the gratitude in his eyes and gives him a reassuring smile.

The ladies take both the brides to their side of the curtain and the ceremony starts.

Khushi notices Arnav looking at her through the curtain. She blushes and gives him a sign to look away.

Arnav slowly smirks but does not move his eyes.

Khushi’s eyes widen at his attitude. She mouths: Laad Governor…

Arnav’s smile widens but his gaze remains on Khushi throughout the ceremony.

The ceremony starts with Garima applying haldi on Payal and Buaji applying haldi on Khushi first.

Then they switch the brides.

After them, Anjali applies haldi on Payal and Khushi

On the other side, Naniji applies haldi on Arnav and Mamiji applies haldi on Aakash first. Then they switch the groom.

But as Naniji is about to apply just a dot of haldi, Arnav asks: Nani, why is everyone applying so much haldi on Khushi, Aakash and Payal and you are only putting a dot on me?

Naniji gets surprised: Well, Chotey. You always used to get upset even when we applied a small red dot on your head from temple. So we thought you will be angry.

Arnav assures: Don’t worry about that. Do what you are doing for everyone else.

Naniji nods with tearful eyes and applies generous amount of haldi on Arnav. Seeing that Mamiji also applies equal amount of haldi on Arnav when they switch places.

Then Naniji and Mamiji come to Khushi’s side and Anjali, Garima and Buaji move to the other side.

Naniji puts haldi on Khushi and Mamiji on Payal first and then they switch brides.

On the other hand, Buaji puts haldi on Arnav and Garima on Aakash, then the switch grooms.

Anjali is the last one to put haldi on Arnav and then Aakash.

The ceremony ends and everyone starts congratulating and hug each other.

Payal was about to get up when Khushi stops her. She says: Jiji, won’t you put haldi on me?

Payal smiles and puts haldi on Khushi and Khushi puts haldi on Payal.

Khushi and Payal hug each other.

Arnav and Aakash see the sisters bonding from other side.

Aakash whispers: Bhai, do you think we should put haldi on each other too? Like them?

Arnav turns to Aakash and gives him are-you-freaking-kidding-me look.

Aakash gulps and closes his mouth.

Arnav gets up and points to the partition: NK, take off this saree.

NK teases him: No no, Nannav… You are not allowed to see Khushiji today. So that partition is not going anywhere until tonight.

Aakash also nods: Yep, that’s what maa told me too.

Arnav raises his brow at them, grabs the saree in the middle and rips it apart.

Everyone jumps at the ripping sound and sees Arnav standing with the partition ripped.

Khushi’s mouth hung wide open with eyes big like saucers.

Aakash and NK standing on his both sides open mouthed, quickly nod their head negatively and point their index finger towards Arnav.

Naniji raises her brow: Chotey, didn’t you know that the groom can’t meet the bride on Haldi ceremony? We arranged the ceremony together but maintained the rituals with the partition. Why did you tear up the partition?

Arnav answers: I know that the groom can’t see the bride on Haldi ceremony. But the ceremony is over. So…

Then he does not wait for any longer for anyone to come up with any excuses or complaints. He strides over to Khushi, grabs her hand and drags her upstairs in spite of her protests.

Aakash and NK’s mouth were hanging open.

Aakash tries to mimic Arnav by taking a step towards Payal but one glare from Mamiji stops him in his tracks.

He mutters to NK: Bhai always gets to do whatever he wants. I never get to do anything.

NK mutters back: Nannav gets to do what he wants because he does not listen to anybody.

Aakash mumbles: Yeah, but why does no one say anything? Someone should tell him he can’t do whatever he wants.

NK mumbles: Yeah? And who will do that telling? You?

Aakash shuts his mouth.

Arnav’s Room, Shaantivan

Arnav drags Khushi into the room and closes the door.

Khushi whirls back angrily: Arnavji, why did you drag me here? You know how much I will get teased for this? Di will not let this go by and Jiji? She will definitely giggle and nod to whatever Di says. Then there is Buaji and Mamiji with their special commentary…

Arnav interrupts in a calm voice: I don’t care.

Khushi shakes her hand with sending her bangles jingling: Of course, you don’t care. No one dares to tease you. But me? Everyone teases me. Even Laxmiji teases me.

Arnav smiles: That’s because you are so easy to tease.

Khushi turns away in huff and starts muttering under her breath.

Arnav turns her around: Khushi, won’t you ask why I brought you here?

Khushi (still sulking): Why?

Arnav smiles: Everyone applied haldi on you. But I did not. So I brought you here to apply haldi on you.

Khushi smiles back: Really? But where is your haldi?

Arnav’s eyes get a mischievous twinkle: Here.

He grabs Khushi close and wraps his entire body around her petite one thus transferring the generously applied Haldi from his body to hers.

Then he rubs his cheeks on her opposite cheeks so that even the Haldi from his cheek gets transferred onto her own.

Then he pulls back slightly and smiles at Khushi: Now I have put haldi on you.

Khushi blushes but challenges back: But I did not put haldi on you.

Arnav raises his brow.

Khushi leans towards his face and slowly rub her nose with his, covering the only portion of his face that did not have any Haldi… until now.

Then she pulls back and smiles at him.

The winter wind sighs on the poolside seeing the lovers cocooned in each other.

Hindi Words Hints: 

Haldi - Turmeric, 
Haldi Ceremony - Indian traditional ceremony where a mix of turmeric and milk cream are applied on the bride and groom to make them glow for the wedding.