Bride of Sheesh Mahal - Season 3 - Part 7A

(BANNER TO BE POSTED SOON) 

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Chapter 7A


Arnav’s POV


"Daadi, I've presented the Puja thali to the Priest," I tell my grandmother, who is accompanying me to the temple to receive blessings. Daadi and Di have made it a point to go to the temple every day, but Di was unable to join her today for some reason, so I drove Daadi to the temple, missing my office.

“Khushi?” Daadi looks behind me, and I'm taken aback.

Turning around, I notice Khushi approaching us in a simple pink salwar suit. She is alone, and I am curious as to what she is doing in the temple at this hour when she should be at work. Nonetheless, it's a pleasure to see her.

"Namaste," she greets Daadi as she approaches us, and she gives me a quick glance. I give her a friendly smile, but she is serious. Extremely serious. I'm not sure why.

"Khushi, it's wonderful to have you here. "Do you come here every day at this time?"

"No, I generally come first thing in the morning before going to work."

“Oh” Daadi smiles. “Then how come you are here now?”

“I came here to meet you. Gopalji (the Priest) said you always come here at this hour. So..”


Now I'm intrigued. Why has Khushi come to meet Daadi in particular? Has she decided whether or not to accept the marriage proposal? Her expression tells me she's going to deny, and my heart skips a beat at the prospect. I'm not sure why, but ever since I saw this woman, and Daadi proposed her to me as my wife, all I can think about is this touch-me-not Devi Maiyaa devotee in the place of my life partner.

"Did you come here to meet me?" Daadi lifts her eyebrows in amazement.

"Jee," Khushi exhales sharply before proceeding. "I am willing to marry your grandson." "Humme yeh Rishta manjoor hai... " (I agree with your proposal.)

I almost mouth What the F*** the moment she completes. Did she really agree or am I hallucinating?

“What? Really?” Daadi rejoices. “I… I don’t know what to say.. Did I hear you right? You will marry Arnav?”


She grabs Khushi’s arm becoming anxious. Khushi puts a weak smile on her face.

“Yes, I am ready to become his bride,” she repeats and this time my heart drums like it’s going to burst out any moment.


I am clueless how to react? Should I be happy that she agreed? Was I expecting her to accept my proposal? But so far she was waiting to deny. She never showed a bit of interest in me then why was she agreeing now? Something was surely off about this.. about her acceptance and her expressions.


Daadi kissed her temple and then cupped her face.


“I will thank Devi Maiyaa for this. You have no idea how much relief you have given me.” Daadi adds. “Lets go take the blessings.. I want you both to get the blessings of Devi Maiyaa”


Daadi is about to drag us when I stop her.

“Daadi I want to speak to Khushi first. If you don’t mind..”


Daadi was skeptical at first.

“Are you.. not interested in this alliance, Chotte? But you said if she agrees you too would have no problem.”

“I don’t have a problem, Daadi and yes, I said that and still stick to it. But I still want to speak to Khushi privately.”


Daadi nods in agreement.

“Okay, I am sorry but, in my excitement, this skipped my mind. You both should talk.”


She leaves us alone. Khushi who was quiet all this time suddenly speaks up.

“I am not doing this under anyone’s influence.” She clears my doubts. “This decision is my own.”

“And what made you come to this decision?” I ask. “Because last night when I dropped you home, you didn’t look very comfortable when I reminded you this.”


She looks away from me.

“Did your father pressurized you?” I poke again. “Or is that you are afraid your rejection might hamper our professional tie ups? If that’s so, I can assure you, I..”

“I want to marry you for my own reasons.. for reasons I don’t think you understand or would believe in..”


Now I am curious.

“What reasons?”

She swallows painfully.

“I am not ready to share those with you yet..”

It pisses me off. I grab hold of her elbow and force her to look at me.

“You can be ready to marry me but not share the reasons behind it? That’s not something I can accept, Khushi Kumari Gupta. If you want to marry me, I want us to be transparent with our thoughts. I might have lived in a foreign country but the blood that runs in my body is very Indian. I can be a typical husband who wants to know everything his wife thinks and desires. Don’t take me lightly.”


I don’t want to scare her but that’s the truth. I think every relationship to work well and last forever needs transparency.

“Fine” she scowls. “But I can’t share them here or now. Give me some time to do that.”


This suspense is killing me but I agree.

“Okay, but eventually I would want to know what made you agree to this proposal. Hopefully you will share it with me before we tie the knot.”

She gives a small nod and then wears the Veil over her head.

“Your Daadi is waiting for us to take the blessings.. Shall we?”


I don’t know why but my gaze lingers longer than necessary on her face. She is really going to be my wife? Huh!! What about that touch-me-not policy? I am kind of worried about that. Nevertheless we have a lot to discuss before we go ahead with this marriage. I follow her and we meet Daadi who is speaking to the priest. We fold hands before the idol to take blessings of Devi Maiyaa and then bend down to touch Daadi’s feet together. She blesses us both.

“Did you tell your father about it? Does he know?” she asks Khushi who nods in agreement.

“Jee. I told him while I was on way to the temple. He knows and is extremely happy.”

“Good. This is such a good day already. I’ll meet your father today itself and fix a date with him and Gopalji(the priest)”

“Daadi, whats the hurry?” I interrupt. “I mean, lets take it slow.”

“Chotte you are in a hurry to fly back to London as your work is getting hampered. We are hurrying for you..”


Khushi glances at me in disbelief. She didn’t expect me to stay here in India forever, did she? Well, I haven’t even asked her if she was willing to fly with me abroad and settle down there. We still have so much to talk about and discuss.


“Daadi, I just don’t want Khushi or her family to feel we are rushing. That’s it. Of course, the marriage will happen before I fly back to London but, that doesn’t mean we will put a pressure on them. I hope you understand what I mean..”


Daadi smiles.

“I like this thoughtful nature of yours and the fact that you are so worried of the comfort of your would-be wife is making you a gentleman in her eyes. Isn’t that right, Khushi?”


I stare at Khushi who tries not to meet my gaze. She has mixed feelings on her face. She is confused, nervous and flushed, at the same time. We take the Prasad which the priest gives us and then head out of the temple.


“Are you going to office now?” Daadi asked Khushi who agreed to her.

“Then go with Arnav. He too was going to drop me home and head for work. I’ll ask the driver to drop you both at work and then I will head home.”

It sounded fair. I sit ahead with the driver whereas Khushi and Daadi take the backseat. Daadi begins to talk again with Khushi as soon as the car leaves the premises of the temple but I don’t miss noticing the same woman in black attire, staring at our car from some distance. I am taken aback as I see her grinning at me.. As if she is challenging me for something. I don’t get good vibes from her. I ignore her and then glance at the rearview mirror. Khushi is in deep conversation with Daadi. I can’t believe she is going to be my wife soon and in the coming years, we will have kids! F***!! I have never been such a good planner but somehow just the sight of this touch-me-not devotee of Devi Maiyaa and my mind races with the speed of light. As if Khushi realizes I am staring at her, she looks straight in my eyes at the rearview mirror. Our gazes lock and I do nothing to break them. It would really be fun chasing her to give me every rights a husband deserves. That day when I gazed at her lips for a fraction of second, she warned me not to. What would she do when I touch those lips once she becomes my wife? What would she do when I kiss her? Damn hell!! My lower body suddenly is in full alert as I visualize all this. I have never been this desperate. It’s like fate is pushing me towards her and I can’t help obeying those demands.


I am the first one to drop that gaze from the mirror and look outside the window instead. At least that way, I can keep my hormones low!!


To be Continued.


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