He Loves Me Not - Part 56 B

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Chapter 56 B

As Arnav put his foot inside the venue where the Mehndi was arranged, he got a clue of what surprise everyone was teasing him about. The stage was set in the middle of the huge lawn and it clearly indicated there were going to be some dance performance.

“What the” he snapped at Aman who was just beside. “I thought its Khushi’s Mehndi today”

“It is” Aman patted his back. “But we clubbed the Sangeet as well. Technically, its both” he grinned

“And who planned this and why?”
“For you Arnav. Look. Khushi and you wanted to marry with all rituals and traditions in place, didn’t you? So Sangeet couldn’t be skipped. And if we hadn’t clubbed it together, it would waste another day and that would just delay your wedding again”

Arnav clenched his jaw.

“Shut up… Why wasn’t I pre informed?”

Aman chuckled.

“We didn’t want to step on the lions tail by doing that”

“You still have” Arnav gave him a frustrated stare.

“Okay.. okay” Aman stepped behind. “Don’t dance.. Just watch the others do that. Happy?”

“Dance? And Me? Forget it” he resented.

“Arnav…” Shashi Gupta intervened their conversation. “What are you both doing here? Come on in. I have to introduce you to few of our guests. I hope you don’t mind”

Arnav faked a smile. He doesn’t mind doing any of it, except the dancing.


*****************

After a tiresome meet and greet with the Guptas relatives, Arnav moved away from the guests and stopped Buaji.

“Buaji.. where is Khushi?”

Madhumati laughed at his desperation. Poor lad, he was missing his bride.

“She will be out in a moment. Why don’t you take a seat at the front row? The dances will start soon”

Buaji slipped away. Arnav had this heady feeling that his family would drag him for a dance. He strode to his mother who was hosting their guests.

“Mom” he dragged her away.

“Arnav.. What is it?” Revati asked.

“I am not going to dance. That’s final”

“Okay.. Chill” she palmed his cheek. “No one will force you. Happy?”

Arnav exhaled. Revati chuckled at his nervous state.

“Enjoy others dancing. Will you? I heard Khushi’s aunt is going to dance too. Wouldn’t that be interesting?”

It broke a smile on Arnav’s face too.

“Seriously? Buaji is dancing?”

“Yes” Revati nodded. “And not to mention.. the bride is performing a duet dance too. On your favorite song”

“My favorite song?” he got impatient. Which one? He doesn’t have a huge collection of favorites.

“Hmm. Don’t tell anybody I told you. It is a surprise. I told you because I want you to feel good and relaxed. Now go and cheer up others. Go”

Arnav was overwhelmed. He couldn’t wait to see his bride performing. He had seen her dance on peppy numbers when she was very young. Putting all her energy in the moves, she looked irresistible. But that was still years ago when he had no rights on her. He wondered what would happen when he watched her dancing on his beloved music today?

Khushi came out with some of her cousins and Doctor Payal who was decked up in a Lehnga like the others. Aman sipped his juice exhaling softly.

“She looks cute, doesn’t she?” Aman gasped.

“She is your sister-in-law now. No chance Aman” Arnav teased.

Aman was confused for a bit but when he realized Arnav was talking about Khushi he sighed.

“I am not talking about Khushi but her friend… Payal”

Arnav smiled dramatically.

“She has that charm you know.. to draw people.. specially heart patients like me” Aman added.

“She is a psychologist. Not cardiologist” Arnav reminded.

“Does that matter?” Aman snapped. “forget it.. you wouldn’t understand”

“I wouldn’t understand?” Arnav asked. “I fell in love years ago unlike you”

“That’s because you met Khushi years ago.. Wish I had met Payal that time. We would have had babies in school by now”

Arnav cleared his throat.

“Mr. Fast” Arnav said. “If you say this to Payal, I am sure she would run far away from you”

“I know” Aman sipped the juice again and gulped it down completely as Khushi and Payal reached them. As Khushi seated next to Arnav, he moved closer.

“You didn’t tell me any of this” he whispered to her.

The smile she gave after, almost rocked his world. She entwined their fingers as the lights dim for the performances. Buaji’s dance was first with Shashi Gupta. It was a funny song and everyone enjoyed their dance. Arnav himself was impressed.

“She dances like an expert” he complimented.

“She is a trained dancer. Just that she didn’t practice from past few years” Khushi replied.

She then scanned the place as if looking for someone.

“Raj uncle is here but Sheetal didn’t come?”

“Why would she?” he asked. “Dad insisted her but then she denied. He didn’t force her”

Khushi sighed in disappointment.

“I don’t want her to feel we all are hurting her. She has every right to walk off from this place. But she is staying back for her father and Aman. That itself proves she is not a bad human being”

Arnav agreed. He too wanted to talk openly to Sheetal and fill this gap of no communication with her. But every time he thought of doing so, he somehow couldn’t.

The next one to perform were Khushi’s friends. They did a group dance, enacting themselves as Arnav and Khushi. Depicting their teen love. It refreshed some of their memories of the past when Khushi was hopelessly in one sided love with him. The performance brought tears in Khushi’s eyes which he noticed and wiped off. He touched her face, her fingertips glided over her brows.

“You Okay?”

She wanted to answer him but her throat was too tight. She could only nod.

“I was a jerk to push you away all the time”

“Shut up” she scolded.

She leaned her head on his shoulders preparing herself to enjoy the next dance sequence.

When Revati and Ayush hit the stage, it attracted whistles from the crowd. They were one perfect couple who danced their hearts out. It was their son’s wedding after all. The joy was visible on their faces and the energy they put in the performance. After clapping for them, Payal came to take Khushi away.

“Where are you going?” Arnav asked.

“Surprise” she mumbled and hurried with Payal at the backstage. Aman shifted his seat back to Arnav.

“She is performing on your favorite song” he informed.

Arnav smirked.

“I know”

“You do? How?”

“Mom told me”

“Oh man. It was a surprise”

“It still is. I cannot wait to see her perform” he tried to hold his blush and then got up.

“Now where are you going?”

“To wish her”


Arnav slipped away in the dim light. When he reached the backstage, he heard Khushi and Payal arguing.

“I cannot believe she is still not here. Suman has left her home long back” Payal muttered.

“She is stuck in traffic” Khushi’s voice was low. She put her phone away. “She will take an hour more”

“An hour? But time is up for your performance. It’s the last one and highlight of the Sangeet tonight. We cannot cancel it neither postpone because after all this, the Mehndi should begin. How will you dance?”

Khushi got nervous.

“Maybe we should cancel it”

“Cancel?”
Khushi didn’t reply. She was very upset.

“I really wanted to surprise Arnav.. but..” she looked down feeling sorry for herself.

Arnav fisted his fingers hiding behind the pillar. He wanted to do something for her. He wanted to tell her that he wouldn’t mind if she doesn’t dance tonight on his favorite song. But will that heal her? She was so much excited to surprise him. She had put her best efforts for this dance. How can he let it all go in vain?

“I know few steps. I will replace Suman” Payal decided.

Khushi’s face lit with a faint smile.

“Are you sure, Payal?”

“Yea. I am not a very good dancer. But hopefully this should work. Go change. I will get ready too. Be on the stage. I will join you when the music begins”

Khushi hugged her friend tight.

“Thank you..” she kissed Payal’s cheek and rushed to the changing room.

******************

“And the last performance of this night” Ayush announced on the mike. “By the most beautiful bride of this season.. Khushi Gupta”

Everyone clapped heartily as Ayush got down the stage and the lights dimmed. Khushi stood in the green saree, ready for the spotlight on her and the music to tune.

“Where is Arnav?” Aman asked Payal who came out to watch the dance. “he should be here to see her dance”

“There” she replied.

Payal smiled at him and pointed Aman at the stage. The spotlight fell on Khushi and music begun. The moment she turned to see her partner, her eyes widened in shock.

“Arnav?” she murmured. What was he doing on the stage in black shirt and trousers? He was in Sherwani so far. And Payal? Where was she? She froze seeing Payal giving her a thumbs up from down the stage because Arnav Singh Raizada had replaced her.. No one could take the place of Khushi’s dance partner tonight than her very own beloved.. her would-be groom.

A shiver ran through her spine as Arnav touched her skin and drew her closer to dance on his favorite Bollywood number… Teri Meri Song. Khushi hadn’t even realized when he cleared the distance between them and started grooving with her. But it was worth it.. She had planned to surprise him tonight but instead he surprised her and even shocked the rest of the family members whose jaws were still dropped.

“Is he there for real?” Ayush asked.

“I don’t think so. Is he Arnav’s body double?” Revati queried.

Arnav reached them and stood together.

“Seeing is believing Uncle, Aunty.. That’s my friend there.. Dancing with his love.. like never before…”

Ayush wrapped his arm around his wife to hold his excitement as they all continued to enjoy the rest of the song.


To be Continued


NEXT PART

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