Epilogue

Author’s Note:

Dear Friends,

I thank you all for going through this journey with me while I wrote this story. As most of you know, I dreamt this story a few months back. This story moved me so much that I had to write it down. So I woke up at 2 a.m. and ignoring my husband’s usual “crazy woman” mumbles wrote down the plot asking my friends should I continue writing it as I already had my FF: Pride and Love going at that time.

Next morning I woke up to an overwhelming response. So I decided to continue. My initial plan was to complete the story within 10 chapters. But people started liking it and identifying with it, so I decided to continue it for a while longer. My short story turned out not-so-short after all with 25 chapters and one epilogue.

Today, I just want to thank my readers, for getting so emotionally involved with the characters and having the patience to go through the story. Special thanks to those readers who threatened me with murder if I kill Khushi in the end (You know who I am talking about girls). You guys made this journey worthwhile.

I hope you all enjoyed this story. I will continue my Pride & Love until I come up with a new concept for a story.

Until then, have a lovely weekend.

Love

T

P.S. If you guys have not read my FF: Pride & Love, do check it out for a completely different flavour of writing. The link for my fan fiction is below.

FF: Pride & Love

Epilogue:

Arnav wakes up to a heavy feeling in his head. He slowly opens his eyes to a bright light and immediately closes his eyes.

He tries to move slowly but feels pain coursing through his body. His tongue feels thick in his mouth.

He tries to open his eyes again, this time avoiding the overhead bright lights and looks around to see that he is in the hospital.

He wrinkles his brow and tries to remember why he is in the hospital when suddenly his memory comes back of the last 7 days and ending in the crash.

Pain shoots through his heart as he looks around wildly for Khushi, but does not see anybody. He tries to scream Khushi’s name but only a hoarse sound rasps out of his dried throat.

He whips up the cover and tries to get out of the bed in panic and knocks off the glass jug holding water on the side table sending it crashing on the floor.

At the sound, a nurse comes running in. She tries to put Arnav back into his bed. But he shrugs off her hand with inhuman strength and tries to get out of the room calling Khushi’s name.

Hearing his voice, Anjali, Nani and NK come running in.

NK rushes to Arnav: What are you doing Arnav? You are still weak.

Anjali hurriedly shouts out for the doctor.

But Arnav snarls at NK like a wild animal: Let me go NK…

Nani gets scared seeing his wild eyes.

The doctor comes rushing in: Mr. Raizada, please lie down. You are not well. You need rest.

Arnav grabs the doctor’s collar and growls: Listen doctor, I need to see my wife right now. Either you take me to Khushi yourself or I will go find her myself even if I will have to take this hospital apart.

The doctor tries to calm him down: Okay fine. You can see your wife.

He nods to the nurses and they hit a button and a portion of the wall goes up revealing a glass partition.

Arnav rushes to the glass and sees Khushi lying in a bed, still as a corpse.

A keening cry comes out of his throat as Arnav collapses on the floor.

The doctor walks to Arnav: Relax, Mr. Raizada. There has been no changes in your wife’s condition since the last 7 days you have been unconscious.

As the doctor’s word slowly sink in Arnav’s brain, he looks up to the doctor with sudden hope. He clutches the doctor’s hands and whispers: You mean, my Khushi is alive?

The doctor wrinkles his brow: Yes. I told you before you collapsed in front of the Operation Theater that your wife is in coma. Didn’t I?

Arnav (shocked): What? Collapse in front of the Operation Theatre? No, doctor. You must be mistaken. We were in a car accident, remember?

The doctor gets even more confused: No, Mr. Raizada. You and Mr. Sharma brought your wife with a bullet wound to this hospital a weak ago remember?

Arnav gets frustrated: Yes, I remember. But then Khushi died and then I got a second chance and then we got married and all. Then we got into a car accident when the brake failed in our car and a truck hit us.

Anjali gasps behind the doctor and clutches Nani.

NK asks Arnav: What are you talking about, Arnav? You were married six months before. Remember?

The doctor looks at his family: Could you please step outside? I need to examine the patient.

Anjali, Nani and NK walks out slowly.

The nurse sits shocked Arnav back into the bed and then walks out. The doctor sits on the chair beside the bed and starts asking basic questions.

The doctor: Mr. Raizada, can you tell me today’s date?

Arnav whispers: February 14^th, 2012.

The doctor: Hummm…. Can you tell me what is your memory of the last 7 days?

Arnav slowly narrates the story of the last 7 days leaving out the more intimate details.

The doctor leans forward: Well, Mr. Raizada. Today is August 21st, 2012. It’s been six months and 7 days since the date you mentioned. The first part of your story is partially correct. You did bring your wife with a bullet wound and when after the operation, I informed you that your wife went into a coma, you collapsed in a diabetic coma yourself.

Your cousin informed us that you have been kidnapped and probably did not get your medicines on time.

Everything you told me after that was your hallucinations while you were in the coma.

Arnav shakes his head: It’s not possible doctor. It was real. Our beautiful moments were real. There were people I met, whom I have never seen before. How could I imagine them in so much details while I was unconscious? I mean I remember the woman who made that deal with me, Lachhi and I can describe her to you. She was…

Suddenly a nurse knocks the door and walks in: Doctor, I’m here to give the medication to the patient. Shall I leave them here and come back later?

Arnav looks up at the nurse’s face and whispers: Lachhi…

The nurse smiles at him: My name is Lacy, sir. Lacy D’Souza.

The doctor turns to Lacy: Lacy, you can leave the medications here with me and leave.

Then he turns back at shocked Arnav: Let me guess, you saw Lacy as Lachhi.

Arnav slowly nods his head.

The doctor continues: And the bright light you seemed to see from time to time were probably the overhead light. The twinkling stars were probably what your subconscious mind saw outside your window, the diyas were probably lights reflecting on stainless steel equipment someone carrying through the hallway and the sound of bells in the temple could be the hospital temple.

You see, everything you saw was very clearly explainable.

Arnav shakes his head and whispers: But it felt so real…

The doctor says: Coma induced hallucinations often seem more real than actual reality. We have records showing coma patient waking up thinking their dreams being more real than reality itself. One patient once woke up thinking he was married to his colleague and it took a long time for the patient to remember that his colleague was never his wife.

Often this is caused by underlying feelings or dreams we carry in our subconscious mind that we can’t express. When we go in coma, conscious mind goes in repose and subconscious mind takes over. Then those long-buried feelings and dreams manifests themselves as reality. But it’s not real.

Think about yourself. You, a rational human being, believed that you can indeed turn back clock and go into your past and fix everything wrong. You tell me, is it believable?

Arnav slowly shakes his head negatively.

The doctor writes a prescription: Here’s my recommendation for a psychiatric consult should you feel the need. However, I don’t think it’s necessary as you’ll slowly start to see the perception of reality back in place eventually once the shock wears off. In the meanwhile, take these medicines and have a rest.

Arnav gulps down the medicines like a mechanical robot.

As the doctor turns to leave, he stops him: Doctor?

The doctor turns to him.

Arnav looks at him: You said Khushi is fine, right? She will wake up eventually like I did, correct?

The doctor replies sadly: Well, we can’t predict when she will wake up as she is in coma. But hopefully with treatment and her family’s love, support and prayer, she might wake up eventually.

Arnav nods his head: Thank you.

The doctor nods back and leaves.

Arnav slowly gets up and walks out of his room and slowly limps to the adjoining room where Khushi was as pale and still as a corpse. Only the shallow up and down of her chest with her breathing was indicating that she was still alive.

Arnav walks up to her and holds her hand.

He gently places a kiss on her palm and says: I don’t know if we really had those beautiful moments or it was all a product of my subconscious mind trying to erase all bad memories and wanting to make everything right. All I know is that those moments spent with you were the best memories of my life. Please wake up so that we can relive those moments together again.

Drops of tears run out from the corner of his eyes to Khushi’s forehead as he bends forward to kiss it.

Then he sits on the chair beside her bed and holds her hand close to his heart and goes to sleep laying his head on Khushi’s bed.

One of Khushi’s fingers makes a tap with the vibration of Arnav’s heart in his chest as her heart picks up a steadier pace matching the rhythm of Arnav’s heartbeat.

THE END

Chapter 25 (Last Chapter)

Arnav’s Room, Shaantivan:

Arnav goes in his room decorated with roses and jasmine flowers making the air fragrant with their sweet smell and in the middle of his bed, behind the curtains of flowers, were sitting his bride covered in a red semi-transparent veil.

Arnav walks up to her mesmerized, when he hears giggle… Arnav wrinkles his brow in confusion and strides up to her and notices Khushi is looking at something under the long veil and giggling.

He grabs the long veil and flips it over Khushi’s head. Khushi looks up to see Arnav there and opens her mouth in a “O”. Arnav notices that she was holding an iPad in her hand.

Arnav clenches his teeth and bites out: What you were doing?

Khushi stammers: Me? Nothing… Nanheji gave me this picture book to look… (gulps the rest of the sentence seeing Arnav’s expression)

Arnav (irritated): It’s not picture book, it’s an iPad and what pictures you were looking at?

Arnav grabbed the iPad to Khushi’s indignation and pouts and sees that it was their wedding pictures.

Arnav scowls: What the Khushi? Today is our first night. You could not have waited tomorrow to see the pictures.

Khushi pouts: I wanted to see how I was looking in the pictures. I have to show this to our children and grandchildren.

Arnav (exasperated): Unbelievable. Khushi, if we go through this night, then there will be even remote prospect of children, let alone grandchildren. Understood?

Khushi (equally exasperated): I know. I have seen a lot of veil flying in movies. Don’t think I’m stupid.

Arnav (now confused): Veil flying?

Khushi (wide eyed): Yes. You don’t watch Bollywood movies so you don’t know. (puts her right hand on her chest) I’ll tell you.

Arnav (raises his brow): Movies… Of course… Why am I not surprised?

Khushi (ignores him and continues): When the groom enters the room in wedding night, he looks at the bride with love. And the bride blushes under the veil. Then the groom lifts the veil and the bride bites her lips.

Arnav leans closer with smoky looks: Then?

Khushi (continues): Then the bride gives the groom a glass of milk to drink.

Arnav (confused): Milk? Why?

Khushi (wrinkles her brow): I don’t know why. But you gotta give milk to the groom.

Arnav (shakes his head): I prefer coffee. Black no sugar. But anyways, continue…

Khushi (continues): Then the groom holds the bride’s veils and throws it in the air…

Arnav (confused): Throws the veil in the air? Whyever for?

Khushi (exasperated): Off ho… He does…

Arnav interrupts: Never mind. (smoky looks) And then?

Khushi (continues): The light goes off.

Arnav leans closer and whispers: I prefer lights on sometimes. But do continue…

Khushi (finishes her story): The next morning the smiling husband and blushing wife wake up.

Arnav leans back in surprise: What? That’s it?

Khushi (thinks for a moment): No. The groom has to have the bride’s sindoor on his cheek too.

Arnav (exasperated): No no. What is between the light goes off and the next morning…

Khushi (confused): Errmmm… Darkness?

Arnav (exasperated): What is after darkness and before sunrise?

Khushi (even more confused): Sometimes they show ads like washing powder Nirma or Lux beauty soap…

Arnav (groans painfully): Khushi, that’s what you think happens in wedding night?

Khushi wide eyes, nods her head slowly.

Arnav groans: Dammit.

Khushi (irritated): If you did not want to know, why did you ask me?

Arnav opens his mouth to speak but says: Never mind.

He grabs the iPad to take away from Khushi, but Khushi tugs at it: My picture book…

Arnav (exasperated): Your picture book is not going anywhere. You can have it in the morning.

Khushi starts to speak and notices something in the iPad: Arnavji, who is she?

Arnav looks at the face Khushi pointing her fingers to and pales as a pained whisper rips out of his throat: Lachhi.  

It was picture of their engagement party and Lachhi was standing right behind Khushi. How did she escape everyone’s notice?

Khushi continues her babble unaware of Arnav’s plight: She is not from our side of the family. Is she from your side of the family? She came in every function of our wedding and talked to me. I like her.

Arnav whips through the pictures and there she was. 

In every function, she was standing close to Khushi. Even in the wedding pictures, she was standing behind Khushi and him as he was tying the Mangalsutra on her neck or putting sindoor on Khushi’s forehead.

Arnav threw the iPad on the bed and grabbed Khushi’s arms in panic: Khushi, what did she tell you?

Khushi blinks her eyes: I can’t remember them all. But she said today that, “Don’t measure how many moments you have in your life, measure how much life you have in those moments.”

And she said to tell you that, “You live in the past, love in the present and leave the learning for the future. You have to learn from the past, live in the present and store love for the future. I did what I could but now it’s time for you to stop trying to write your destiny and shape your own memories instead.”

What does it mean Arnavji?

Arnav understood what Lachhi was trying to tell him. She tried to make him understand that running after an unknown or known future will only make him loose his present moments with Khushi. He needs to make as many memories as he can in these small moments he has left with her.

He looked at Khushi and smiles: I got the message. I know what I have to do now.

He tugs at Khushi’s hands: Let’s go.

Khushi is surprised: Where?

He smiles: You’ll see.

They sneak out of their room and slowly gets out of Shaantivan.

They get in Arnav’s car. Khushi notices that he makes some calls while driving using his Bluetooth.

The car stops in front of Mughal Gardens, New Delhi.

Mughal Gardens, New Delhi

Arnav gets out of the car and opens the door for Khushi. Khushi gets out and looks around in surprise: Arnavji, what are we doing here?

Arnav smiles: You’ll know shortly…

As they approach the main gate, a guard opens the door and takes them to a dark place and leaves.

Khushi could not see anything in the dark so she squints her eyes and asks: Arnavji, I can’t see anything.

Suddenly, a light switches on and she sees a magnificent old gazebo probably built in Mughal Era in the middle of a circular flower bed fragrant with roses and tulips.

The light was lit under the dome so the gazebo looked as if it was lit from within and in the gazebo was a bed covered with white silk sheets sprinkled with red rose petals.

Khushi gasps at the beauty of the magnificent scene and looks at Arnav in wonder.

Arnav smiles at her expression and bends down to swing her up in his arms and carries her to the bed.

Khushi gasps at the sudden action and holds onto his collar for balance.

He gently sits her down on the bed and slowly takes off her bangles and kisses her wrist

Then he takes off her maangtika and kisses her forehead.

Then he takes off her earrings and kisses her ears.

Then he takes off her necklace and kisses her neck…

MATURE PART BEGINS: For all my underage readers, please skip this part and scroll down until you reach MATURE PART ENDS. You won’t lose any information other than what is not suitable for your young eyes.

Khushi feels as if her body is on fire. She shivers under his touch.

She stammers: Arnavji… (then swallows)

Arnav smiles at her nervousness and whispers in her ears: I’m gonna show you what happens between the time the light goes off until the husband and wife wake up in the morning…

Then Arnav lifts her veil from her head and throws it on the floor of the gazebo.

Then he releases the pins from her hair slowly and her long hair falls on her back like a dark silk curtain.

He then guides her hand to his chest. Khushi looks at him questioningly. 

Arnav whispers: Take off my Sherwani.

Khushi’s hand trembles but follows his instructions and slowly takes off the buttons of his Sherwani. Arnav shrugs his Sherwani off his shoulder revealing his toned muscled body gleaming like melted caramel.

Khushi’s face goes into flame but she peeks in to Arnav’s body under her lashes and blushes some more.

Arnav smiles at the beautiful but red face with cute little red nose. He runs the back of his finger on her cheek and says: I love your blushes. But I want to see how far they spread.

Khushi jumps on him and hides her face on his chest with her arms holding him tight.

Arnav removes her hair to the side and tugs on the ties holding her choli together leaving her back completely exposed.

Khushi feels ripples of pleasure running through her back. She turns away leaving her hold on Arnav and lies face down on the pillow hiding her blushing face in the white silk.

Arnav takes off the rest of the clothes and gets on the bed. He leans on Khushi and bends over her exposed back raining kisses from the nape of her neck to the dimpled dent on her spine where her waist flares out to her hip.

He tugs at the rope holding her lehenga there and slowly pulls her lehenga and her panties off.

He sees Khushi’s exposed back shivering in the February cold and arousal, so he smiles and puts the lambskin white blanket on both of them.

Khushi gets surprised at the sudden warmth and feels Arnav’s hand on her turning her towards him. She turns and looks up to Arnav’s face looking down at her while their bodies were touching each other from chest to the toes.

She gasps at the feel of Arnav’s manhood while Arnav leans down and swallows her gasp with his kiss. Khushi wraps her arm around him and gives in to the sensation of her love’s kiss.

Arnav then rains kisses all over her face, neck and slowly moves towards her br**ts and draws a n**ple in his mouth while palming the other making it into a tight bud.

Khushi arches her back in pleasure. She feels the tugging motion all the way down in her centre.

Arnav then turns to the other br**t and showers equal attention to the other n**ple drawing that one also in a tight hard point.

Then he slowly reaches down and touches her sensitive nub.

Khushi almost comes off the bed at the sensation.

Then he inserts one finger in her warm tight passage, letting her get accustomed to it. Then he enters two fingers and moves them up and down further relaxing her inner muscles.

Then he whispers: This is going to hurt a little bit. But I will try to be as gentle as possible.

He leans closer to her face and draws her lips into a kiss while he inserts his manhood in her in a sharp jab.

Khushi lets out a cry in his mouth as a sharp pain seems to go through all her nerve endings. She tries to get away from the pain.

Arnav swallows her cry and holds back his urge to move. He clenches his teeth and whispers in her ears: Don’t move or the pain won’t go away. I promise baby, there will be no more pain if you don’t move.

Khushi stills her movements, trusting him while tears like pearl drops run down from the corner of her eyes.

Arnav looks at her trembling lips and kisses her slowly while kneading her br**ts softly and slowly.

Khushi feels the pain slowly ebb down followed by a sensation of fullness. She slowly moves her lower body instinctively and feels sudden pleasure shooting through the same nerve endings that were a few minutes ago were almost burning in pain.

Arnav grits his teeth and asks Khushi: Are you okay?

Khushi whispers: Yes, Arnavji. I want to move now.

Arnav kisses her lips again and starts moving slowly. Khushi also instinctively picks up her rhythm and tries to move faster.

Arnav understanding her intent catches up to the rhythm and keeps going deeper and deeper, harder and harder, faster and faster.

Khushi feels pleasure running through her and muscles go tighter and tighter as pleasure builds up. Then suddenly it seems a thousand stars bursts in her body.

As ripples runs through her inner muscles signaling her release, Arnav let’s his tight control go until he too feels stars exploding behind his eye lids while intense pleasure courses through his entire body as he spills jets and jets of warm seeds in her womb.

Arnav collapses on Khushi with exhaustion still trembling from the most powerful orgasm of his life as Khushi still feels the ripples of aftermath running through her veins as exhaustion claims her as well.

MATURE PART ENDS:

After resting in each other’s arms as their breathing slows down, Khushi buries her blushing face on his shoulder. She whispers: Arnavji, we should go back.

Arnav sighs: Why?

Khushi smiles: Because very shortly the sun will come out and our family will expect us to be present at the morning worship with Jiji and jijaji.

Arnav realizes that 12 o’clock has come and gone, yet Khushi is still with him.

He sighs in relief and hugs her tight and whispers: Okay. Let’s go home.

They dress up quickly. Khushi just puts on her bangles and earrings and carries her necklace and maangtika.

They walk up to the front entrance and Arnav starts driving towards his home.

Arnav drives a little faster to get home sooner, but Khushi panics and says: Arnavji, can you please slow down.

Arnav remembers Khushi’s fear of speeding car and tries to slow down. But Arnav notices that the break of his car is not working. He tries to press it down repeatedly, but the car does not slow down.

Khushi looks at him in worry: What is it Arnavji?

Arnav looks at her worried face and tries to assure her with a smile when he notices in his peripheral vision a bright light heading their way.

He realizes that he did not escape his destiny as he thought. All moments spent with Khushi flashes in front of his eyes.

He grips the steering wheel hard and closes his eyes for a moment remembering his vow: If death comes to you in the next moment, I will be so wrapped up around you, that it will have to get through me to come to you.

He takes a deep breath and looks at the oncoming truck heading towards his car. 

Then he turns to Khushi and says: Do you trust me?

Khushi looks at his eyes without hesitation: More than my life, Arnavji.

He lets go of the steering wheel, pulls Khushi in his arms and holds her tight…

The next moment he sees the white light coming closer until everything becomes invisible in the glare and some horrible crush, crunch and screeching sound and everything goes dark.

In the Devi Maiyya’s temple, all candles go off at a strong gust of wind leaving the temple dark as night.

Hindi Words Hints:

Maangtika: A long chain with a locket like ornament. Usually worn on the forehead of Indian women.

Sherwani: Long top worn by Indian men with tight pants.

Choli: A short tight embroidered blouse. Comes with a lehenga and a dupatta.

Lehenga: A long embroidered skirt. Comes with a choli and a dupatta.

Dupatta: A long piece of scarf. 

Chapter 24

Poolside, Shaantivan:

NK barges in the room and whispers: Khushiji, you have to leave now. Everyone is looking for you to get you ready.

Khushi pulls away from Arnav and tells him: I’ll see you in a few minutes Arnavji.

Arnav smiles at her: I will wait for you, Khushi. Don’t be late.

Khushi smiles: I promise I won’t be late.

Khushi then runs to her room mouthing a Thank you to NK.

Arnav starts to get ready for the wedding.

Living Room, Shaantivan:

Arnav and Aakash wait for their brides at the altar.

Aakash was wearing a blue sherwani with silver drape and Arnav was wearing a cream and gold sherwani with a red drape.

All the family members and friends were surrounding floral alter.

Arnav sees Angad standing in the front row.

Arnav nods his head towards him and Angad nods back assuring him.

Suddenly a hush falls in the room. Arnav looks up to see Garima and Buaji are bringing the two brides to their grooms. 

Payal was dressed in a blue and silver lehenga and Khushi was in a blood red and gold lehenga matching their respective grooms.

Arnav could not take his eyes off Khushi. She was looking like every man’s dream and she is all his.

Khushi looks up to see Arnav looking at her with all the love and pride in his heart. Her throat catches with emotions.

The brides stand in the altar beside the groom and the wedding starts.

As per the custom, the brides and grooms exchange garlands with each other.

Then they sit down and the wedding rituals start.

Eventually the time comes for Arnav to put mangalsutra and sindoor on Khushi. He remembers the first time he did this ritual. He did it to punish, he made a mockery of rituals because of hate.

Today when he puts them on Khushi, he does it to tie the woman he loves with him for seven lives, he does it with love.

Then the seven pheras start. Anjali ties the brides’ veils with the grooms’ drapes.

Then the brides and grooms stand up and go around the fire and take vows while the guests shower flower petals on them as blessings.

In the first four pheras, the groom walks in front of the bride and the bride follows and then the brides comes forward for rest of the three vows and the groom follows.

The first vow: They promise to share all their happiness and sorrows from now on.

The second vow: They promise to protect each other from all harm.

The third vow: They promise to love, respect and cherish each other at all times.

The fourth vow: They promise to be faithful and solely devote their life to each other

The fifth vow: They promise to love, respect and honour each other’s family like their own.

The sixth vow: They promise to be each other’s strength in bad times and support in good times

The seventh vow: They promise to be two bodies, but one heart and one soul from now until death do them apart.

But Arnav and Khushi silently vows in their mind: We will be two bodies, one heart and soul even after death.

Then the priest announces the marriage to be complete and both the couples take blessings of the family older members by touching their feet.

After the wedding, while the guests are busy enjoying the party, Anjali brings the couple to the front door to complete “Griha Pravesh”.

Payal and Khushi tip the rice kalash in the room spreading the rice kernels everywhere. Then they step on a bowl of red kumkum and steps in the house.

But Anjali stops them: Hold on. We have a custom here. The groom picks up the bride and enters the house. So come on, pick up your brides.

Arnav and Aakash pick up Khushi and Payal in their arms and walk into the house.

Khushi, as usual, holds Arnav’s collar for balance and blushes.

Arnav smiles at her shy red face and walks in holding her like precious crystal doll.

Arnav starts walking to the stairs to go to his room with Khushi in his arms, when Anjali calls out: Hold it there Chotey. The rituals are not over. We still have games to play.

Arnav looks at the watch, it’s 10:30 p.m. He scowls at Anjali: You have 30 minutes. Then we are going.

Anjali giggles: Someone is getting impatient. Okay fine, we will play games with you first.

They start playing the games like finding rings in the bowl to find out who will rule the roost, untying knotted strings with one hand to find out who can solve problems faster etc.

At 11 o’clock, Arnav gets up and announces: I’m done.

Anjali scowls mockingly: Fine.

Khushi stammers: But Arnavji, there’s still Jiji and Jijaji left. I want to see their games too.

Arnav growls: No need.

Khushi pouts but seeing Arnav’s thunderous face Naniji nods at Anjali to get Khushi upstairs before he blows his temper.

Anjali gets Khushi up and says to Arnav: You wait here. Don’t come upstairs until we call you.

She takes Khushi upstairs and makes her sit in the middle of the decorated bed and spreads her skirt around her. Then she hides Khushi’s face with her veil and leaves giggling.

Arnav walks up the stairs and sees Anjali closing the door of his room.

He scowls: Now what?

Anjali giggles: You gotta hand me money or I won’t let you go in.

Arnav pulls out his wallet and takes out a stack of note and gives them to Anjali without counting.

Anjali’s eyes widen at the amount. Arnav just goes around her and slams the door on her face.

Anjali giggles and goes downstairs to complete the rituals with the other pair.

A gust of wind blows a dark cloud on the full moon, making it disappear in the sky.

Hindi Words Hints:

Mangalsutra – A necklace made with black and gold beads, sign of married woman in North Indian custom.

Sindoor – Vermilion powder. Usually are put on the parting of hair of married Indian woman.

Kumkum - Same vermilion powder mixed with water to create red water where a new bride steps and then walks in her new home leaving her foot prints on the floor.

Kalash – A vessel (looks fat in the middle and narrow on the top and bottom)

Griha Pravesh – Home coming. When a new home is bought or a new bride enters her new home, this ritual is done to welcome good luck, success and prosperity.