Hi guys… I’m finally back here after a long time… But this time I’m trying an OS… No idea how this will be… This is my first OS… And as usual this is a really crazy story… Well Annie have to be crazy right… so pardon me and thanks for reading…
“I love u Mahi….. Will u marry me?”
A guy was on his knees… Proposing a beautiful girl in a blood red evening gown… Her hair in a messy bun….
The girl didn’t reply… Instead made the guy stand… He had his left hand outstretched for her to place her hand and right hand holding the ring ready to make her wear it…
She moved in closer and leaned in. He stood there stunned.
She kissed his right cheek, backed away, turned around and started walking…
“Mahi!!! Is that an yes?”
He could hear her chuckle.
She didn’t stop or turn… But held her left hand up showing him the bright ruby…
He looked at her shocked and then at his still outstretched hands… His right hand fingers were still held as if the ring was still between them… He ran his fingers through his locks smiling sheepishly…
##############################################################
Anjali Jha and Devayani Raizada were actively searching for a bride for their ‘chote’. The panditji has asked them to get him married off within a month. Or else it could be only after he turn 35. He has just completed his post graduation in fashion designing… His passion… He had completed his MBA and had started the AR Designs… He had worked hard… day and night…. Only after bringing the family back to its glory and getting back their ancestral house – Sheesh mahal – had he gone to pursue his passion.
“She would be the perfect bride for chote.” Anjali said looking at the photo of a beautiful girl in a red anarkali… Her long hair braided.
##############################################################
She was shocked by the sudden pull and she crashed against a hard chest.
“You didn’t give me an answer, Mahi.”
“Oh!! But what answer do you expect… After THAT proposal…. No one is going to say yes, for such a proposal… Let alone me…. I have had got better ones, you know…” She winked and turned around only to be pulled back by him.
He wrapped one arm around her waist and the other went to cup her cheek.
“U know what MAHI means? It’s the River, Great earth, Heaven and earth conjoined…. But in case of you…. It’s my love… My heart… My life… And soul… I love u Mahi…”
Her lips curved into a dazzling smile… She kissed his cheeks, pushed him and walked away. “That was better… Keep practicing!!!”
That brought out a smile on his face too. She was the only one who could make him smile like this.
##############################################################
Shashi beta… Actually… We r here with a marriage proposal for Khushi bitiya… Woh… For Chote…. You know everything about us… Only if you r ok with…”
Devayani was cut in the middle by Garima Gupta – the famous industrialist Shashi Gupta’s wife and Ratna Raizada’s best friend.
“Maaji… We r only happy to give our bitiya to Ratna’s son. I know he is nothing like the Maliks. He is Ratna’s son and has her values…. We r ok with this marriage… ”
Both Anjali and Nani smiled.
“Aunty, the panditji asked for the marriage to be held within a month…. And… Err…. Woh… Chote wouldn’t like a grand marriage…. Or many guests for that case…. ”
“It’s ok bitiya… We don’t mind… Even Khushi would like a simple marriage… We will look for the dates.”
##############################################################
“Chote be home early today…. One of Mumma’s close friend’s daughter is coming over.” Anjali told her brother as he was stepping out.
“So…. Why should i be here?”
” Chote… This is ur house and someone is coming over.. so just be here….”
He looked at his sister with narrowed eyes. But she just ignored it and went to Nani who was sitting in the living room.
“Nani…. U sure he won’t be angry?”
Arnav was just at the door when he heard Anjali. ‘angry? Something is really fishy…’
“I’ll take care of that bitiya….” His Nani replied.
Arnav was busy the entire day and he didn’t get time to think about the morning convo.
He was received by the laughter of a girl as he stepped into the living room of Shantivan, and his eyes zeroed in on the beautiful girl, with a bright smile, dressed in even brighter coloured anarkali, sitting in between his cousins Akash and NK, talking animatedly to them. He was rather surprised to see Akash, the silent one, laughing out and actively taking part in the convo.
“What the!”
The girl looked up at him at the exact moment and stood up seeing him. “Arnavji”
“What the hell are U doing here?” He saw the smile disappearing from her face and he turned towards his sister. “Di? What is SHE doing here?”
“Woh… Chote…”
“She got a job in Delhi and so, is gonna stay here in Shantivan with us… And i didn’t think i need your permission to let someone stay here… Do i?” His Nani said.
Arnav clenched his jaw, looked at the girl, who was now looking at her feet, and left the place… Fuming.
“I’ll move out soon, Nani… I was asked to join in such a short notice that i didn’t get time to….” Khushi was interrupted by Nani.
“Khushi bitiya… Stop it… Why will u move out? U don’t have to stay alone, when all of us are here.”
“But Nani…”
“You r staying here and that’s final!!”
Arnav rolled his eyes at the dramatics and continued upstairs after asking for a coffee to HP.
“Come in” He had started unbuttoning his shirt when he heard the knock. He had his back towards the door.
“Coffee” His hand stilled at the third button, hearing the sweet voice, and he turned around abruptly.
She had kept the coffee down and was looking at him, smiling.
“OUT!!” Khushi flinched at the tone.
” I said GET OUT!!! HP… HP…”
HP came running.
Arnav: “i asked U to bring the coffee… Then why did she bring it?”
HP: “bhaiyya… Woh Anjali Didi….”
Arnav: “hmm. You can go…”
And he glared at Khushi and she too hurried out of the room.
Dinner was a silent affair, with Arnav glaring at his sister and Khushi stealing glances at Arnav.
“Khushi… You didn’t tell us, where u got the job.”
” Woh… Di… I mean Anjaliji…” She corrected immediately seeing Arnav’s face. “I… I got a job in… ARD… as the CEO’s PA.”
All of them looked at her shocked while Arnav choked on his food.
“U… My PA??? Who in the world appointed u?”
“Woh… Ur manager… Aman sir…”
He just blinked at the information. He sure was the one who asked Aman to appoint a PA immediately for him as he he didn’t want to sit through an interview with all the girls trying to throw themselves at him. But he didn’t expect HER – a fashion designer of all the people, as his PA.
Arnav was lying on his bed. There were a lot of things running in his mind. That’s when his mobile pinged with an incoming message.
‘Mahi’ he smiled seeing the name on his screen.
‘ Happy bday, Arnav’ the message brought a smile to his face. He looked at the time. It was midnight.
It again pinged after a minute.
‘I LOVE U’ That widened his smile.
‘LOVE U TOO’ He replied and went to sleep. A simple message relaxed him.
He came out of his room, all ready to go the office. That’s when he saw her coming towards him.. with an arthi plate in her hand…. She came to stand in front of him.
” Happy bday, Arnavji!” She said forwarding the thaal towards him. But he ignored her and went to the dining table. Anjali kept a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. She just smiled back at Anjali, who then took her to the table and made her sit next to Arnav.
The choked on the first morsel that she took to her mouth and all the others started hovering over her, concerned.. except for Arnav, that is.. he just continued with his breakfast. The others returned to their food only after Khushi reassured them multiple times, that she is fine.
“Did u like the food Chote?”
“Hmm… Good… Why di?”
“Khushi made them.” NK said.
“What the! Di… What’s all this? Arthi… Breakfast…. She is a guest here… Ask her to remain one…”
Nani: “She is not a guest, but ur wife, Arnav!”
He clenched his jaw and stood up with such force that the chair almost toppled.
“Ya right!!! Wife!!! Whom u got me married to faking ur heart attack, right?!!”
He walked out with that.
Nani: “All this is because of me… U r suffering because of me, bitiya…. I’m really sor…”
“Pls Nani… Don’t apologize to me… It’s ok…. Nani…. I’m getting late… I better leave…”
Akash : ” come Khushi… I’ll drop u…”
“No Akashji… It’s ok… I have my Scooty… Akashji… I don’t want anyone to know…”
‘meet me… At 5… U know where…’ He pressed the sent button after typing the message.
He saw her standing by his favourite tree in his mother’s garden, her back towards him. She was wearing a black netted saree… Her hair unbound… Curled at the end….
He went to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She just relaxed onto his chest and he dipped his head in her hair, taking in her scent.
“I missed u Mahi…”
“I know”
“Mahi…” She chuckled hearing his complaining voice.
“Ok…Ok! I missed u too….” She turned around to face him, still within his arms. “U r such a baby, Arnav!”
He pulled her flush against him and nibbled at her collar bone, making her gasp.
“Baby ha? I’ll show u!!!” He lifted her up saying this and took her inside the farm house.
They were lying on the king sized bed in his room, covered by black satin sheets. Her head resting on his chest and his fingers drawing patterns on her back.
“Where is my gift Mahi???”
“Gift? I came all the way to meet you and u r asking for another gift?”
“You don’t gift someone what is already his and you r all mine… So… u don’t count…”
“But it’s mine to let you touch me or not.” She said teasingly.
“Oh really?! U sure u would be able to control urself?” He winked at her.
“Ha??? Arnav!!!” And she started beating him and he was laughing. She pouted and turned her back to him. He chuckled, wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer, her back against his chest.
After sometime she spoke, almost whispering.
“Arnav…” “Hmm..” “Arnav…” “Hmm…” “Arnav!!!”
“What is it Mahi?”
“Arnav… I have started to love someone else… I don’t know… Maybe… as much as i love u…”
“Hmm …”
“U don’t have anything to say?”
“Mahi… I love u and i know u… There something more isn’t it?”
She slowly turned around lying on her back. She placed her hand above his, over her belly. “Your gift!” She whispered.
It took him a few seconds for him to comprehend. He looked at her wide eyed and his eyes went back to her belly.
“Really?”
She just nodded her head, biting her lips.
“Mahi… Was it… Was it safe for us to…” He started panicking.
“Shh… It’s fine… And it’s safe… Don’t worry…”
He relaxed and started caressing her belly after kissing her.
“You know this is the bestest gift i have ever got…”
She smiled at that.
“But Arnav…. We have to tell ur family…”
“Hmm…. Just give me some more time… A few days is all I’m asking for… ” She nodded her agreeing to him.
“Get up and get dressed… I have to get home… Unlike u… And if I’m not wrong, you r heading back to office right?”
“Er… Princess… I have a little more work to complete…”
“Why don’t you take care of yourself, Arnav?”
“I have you to do that for me… Don’t i?”
He winked at her and stood up from the bed. He chuckled seeing her turning her face to the other side, her cheeks turning red.
“We made a baby… And still u r blushing???” She threw the pillow at him.
He stood near the glass walls of his cabin, looking at the girl laughing, talking with his staff. She looked entirely out off place, in the blue anarkali, in the middle of all the people dressed in short western clothes and suits. But she still managed to make a lot of friends within just 2 days. There was really something in this girl. Khushi, his wife… It would be a lie… If he say that he is not affected by her… He was affected… And big time… And that is y he called HER yesterday – his Mahi, to keep himself sane.
He was frustrated. Really frustrated. He couldn’t really believe what had happened the other morning. She choked on her food… Why? Because he, THE ASR couldn’t keep his hand to himself. He had kept his hand on her thigh.. and she was obviously shocked… And the ass that he is, didn’t even remove his hand after that… Till his Di said about the food, that is. He ran his fingers through his hair. He had to stop all these nonsense… And fast… He had to give Mahi, her rightful place… She should be Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada in front of the world. And his kid… He wanted a girl, just like her mother.
He was lost in his thoughts when he heard the door opening.
“What the?!” ‘who in the hell entered my cabin without knocking?’
He turned around to see a guy, wearing a jeans, t-shirt and a leather jacket, ruffled hair, with a cool look.
“Adi…” He was surprised to see his friend Adithya Rao, CEO of RAO and SON’S corp. there… and that too dressed like that.
“What man? Why r u so shocked? We do have a project together. I just came a week earlier.”
Arnav smiled hearing his friend. They were together in college, for MBA. And Adi was always the easy go lucky guy. He was hell bent on making Arnav his friend. It was rather a challenge for him at first, to change the ever brooding ASR. Well he was not really successful in changing Arnav, but he did get a friend.
Arnav was driving Adi to Shantivan. Nani had strictly said that Adi was to stay there and not some hotel. Adi had bought a new house too, as his family was moving to Delhi. A little bit of furnishing was left and thus he couldn’t shift there until the next day.
“ASR… U know… There was a girl in your office… Really beautiful… ”
“U haven’t changed a bit, have u?”
Arnav asked chuckling.
“Is this really the ASR, chuckling??? Are u sure u r my friend – ASR?”
Arnav just rolled his eyes at his antiques. Another one in NK’s group, he sighed.
“U should meet my cousin NK. You guys will get along well.”
Adi was drinking his coffee, when he saw Khushi walking down the stairs and he spat the whole thing.
“What the hell, man?” Arnav asked shocked.
“That girl what is she doing here?” Adi asked, pointing to Khushi.
“Oh! That’s Khushi, she is Mumma’s friend’s daughter. She stays here. Why?”
“That’s the girl i was talking about… The one from office… She is really beautiful….” He said dreamily and thus didn’t notice the way Arnav’s jaw clenched and hands fisted.
Khushi saw the change in Arnav’s expressions and wondered what happened. And she almost missed a step in her revere. “Careful damn it!!”
She kept her hand over her heart trying to regulate her breathing and bring down her heart beats.
“Don’t u even know how to use the stairs? what were u dreaming about? Can’t u watch were u r going?” Arnav reached her the next moment and started scolding her.
“I.. I’m sorry!” She said in a small voice. It was evident that she was shaken by the incident.
“Why r u scolding her ASR? The poor thing almost fell from the stairs. It’s not her mistake.”
Khushi has recovered from the shock and was looking at Arnav now.
Arnav turned around and said “whatever… I don’t want to carry her to the hos..pital for her carelessness.”
Adi had moved out, within a day, to his new mansion, and his parents too had come to Delhi. It was almost a week since Khushi came to Shantivan. It was karvachaut the next day and the ladies were getting their mehendis done. The Rao family too was there as Nani had called them to celebrate it together. Arnav came down the stairs to see Adi, looking at Khushi. He was surprised by the possessiveness he felt at the moment. He never felt this possessive about Mahi. Maybe because every single time he saw someone looking at her like this, he was right beside her, his arms wrapped around her, claiming her as his, clearly marking his territory.
“So aunty, settling here in Delhi ha?” Anjali asked Mrs. Rao.
” Ha beta… And looking for a girl for Adi..”
Arnav saw her gaze shifting to Khushi, before coming back to Anjali.
“Oh… We will help u look for a girl… Ok Adi… Tell us, what type of a girl do u want?”
“Hmm… Someone with a lot of life in her… Twinkling eyes… Bright smile… Long hair…. Traditional….”
Arnav don’t know why, but he had a sudden urge to be near Khushi and so he went and sat right beside her, starting her. He fisted his hands over his lap to prevent himself from touching her. He saw her gulping and that brought out a small smile.
“What does ur father do?”
Khushi was startled by the question directed at her by Adi’s mother and didn’t like the looks that she was giving her.
“Ji… Aunty… U didn’t ask what i do… I’m proud of my father… But aunty… my identity is what i make… What i do… I’m a fa..”
“Whatever… I don’t want to know…. Is ur house big?”
“What the?!” Arnav was really agitated.
“Mom… Khushi… U should have answered the first question.”
“I THINK THAT I WAS POLITE THE FIRST TIME. BUT WHAT MY FATHER DO AND DON’T DO ARE NONE OF YOUR CONCERN. AND IT’S BETTER IF YOU DON’T TRY TO ORDER ME.” The Raizadas were shocked. They have never seen this side of Khushi. But they too didn’t like the way Mrs. Rao was talking to Khushi and were happy that she gave a good reply.
All were assembled in the dining hall for the sargi. Even the men were there. NK was recording everything in his camera. Anjali was saying that Arnav was not there during the previous 3 yrs. And he remembered how he spend the time with his Mahi. She fasting for him. Even though he didn’t believe in any of these, he never stopped her from doing anything. He too wanted to fast with her as he couldn’t eat, when she was fasting. That earned him a lot of scolding, stating his condition, that he shouldn’t fast, being diabetic.
Arnav saw Khushi coming to the table, wearing a red saree. She took Nani’s and Mamiji’s blessings and sat down to have her sargi.
“What do u think u r doing?” She was startled by his question.
“Woh… Main… Sargi…. Karvachaut…”
“U R NOT FASTING… DID U HEAR ME???”
Even Nani didn’t try to oppose him, hearing his tone and he left the place fuming.
Nani : “it’s ok bitiya… We will convince him the next year… No need to fast today…”
“Hi Nani…”
Anjali had forbidden him from going to office and thus he was looking at the arrangements. That’s when he saw Khushi on a stool, putting some hangings.
“What do u think u r doing? U can’t even descent the stairs properly and here u r standing on a stool?”
“I’m sorry, ArnavJI”
“Ok ok… Just come down” and he gave her his hand. She took it, smiling. Anjali who saw this was also smiling. She was sure that Chote must have been scolding her, but he did offer her, his hands. That was something, wasn’t it?
The Rao family came to Shantivan around 3, much before the other guests. Khushi was running behind the servants checking the last minute arrangements, along with the men.
Arnav turned around swiftly hearing the crash sound to see Khushi fainting. He ran to her, and held her, preventing her from falling over the shattered jug, which she must have dropped. He lifted her and took her the couch. NK came running with water.
She slowly gained consciousness.
Anjali: ” what happened Khushi? Are u alright?”
Khushi just nodded.
NK: “but Khushiji… You were not fasting na… Then what happened to you?”
She looked at him wide eyed and then at Arnav. But he was calm.
“The girl was not fasting? Let me see…?
Mrs. Rao being a doctor started examining her. Khushi closed her eyes tightly dreading the moment.
Mrs. Rao had a smirk on her face while she addressed her son.
“You wanted to marry this girl na… This characterless girl… I wonder whether she even knows who the father of her child is….”
The Raizadas looked at her shocked.
“Don’t know how many beds…”
“Bas!!! Not another word against MY WIFE!!!” roared The Arnav Singh Raizada. The Raizadas and the Raos looked on shocked as Arnav pulled Khushi into his arms, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“You guys can leave!!!” Arnav told the Rao family while Adi looked at him apologetically.
Anjali: “But Chote… How…”
Arnav took a deep breath. It was time to spill some truth.
“Mahi was my junior in college… First we met accidentally… When she fell off from the ramp… Right into my arms… I was really impressed when i came to know that she was the designer of the fashion show… We met again… Several times… And slowly i fell in love with Mahi… Well when i think about it now… May be i was in love with her from the very first moment… I knew that she loved me too… But it took a lot of efforts to make her say yes… She changed my whole concept about love… And marriage… I wanted to marry her… That time i came to India with an aim… To tell you guys about Mahi… To introduce her to you guys… I was rather embarrassed…. The one who said that love doesn’t exist… Was gonna tell you guys that i wanna marry someone… That I’m in love… But you guys had other plans for me… I tried to say no… But u guys were not ready to listen… We went to meet her…” He looked at Khushi. ” I again came to tell u guys everything… But u faked ur heart attack, Nani… And that stupid doctor told me not to upset u… Not to give u any shock… Well me falling in love was nothing short of a shock…. So i agreed for the marriage… I came to know that u r faking, the day after the marriage… I was really angry… And i wanted to pay back… I sent her back to her home… For the rituals and asked her to join back in college… I used to visit Mahi in London… Stating business trips… And Mahi used to come here too… The days when i stayed at Mumma’s farm house…. Later i tried to tell u guys the truth… But first the memory of u guys lying to me and later the embarrassment….. ”
Anjali interrupted him : “but Chote… Khushi is pregnant… And then Mahi…”
“Di…. Arnav calls me Mahi!!! And he even has an explanation for that…” Khushi smiled at him and he tightened his hold.
The Raizadas looked at them wide eyed.
“So we practically forced you to marry your girl friend?”
Arnav nodded, smiling.
“And we were trying to get you hitched to ur lover!”
Arnav chuckled at that.
“Khushiji is pregnant… That means u guys have already…”
“NK!!” Arnav said in a warning tone.
“Wait Khushi is pregnant!!! Means I’m gonna be a bua… Someone get sweets…”
“Di…. It’s karvachaut… You r fasting….”
“That’s y u asked Khushi bitiya not to fast…”
“She had done the rituals, the past three years…. I was with her…”
“But y were u always angry with Khushiji?”
Khushi chuckled hearing that and Arnav glared at her.
“Can’t you see Nanheji…. Ur Nannav haven’t taken his hands off me for a single second… ”
Everyone looked at his hand still at her waist and looked away immediately.
“I was rly frustrated having to keep the distance…”
“Khushi… That day u almost fell from the stairs… U guys knew about the baby then?”
Both nodded their head.
” No wonder Nannav was angry…”
“But Nannav I’m sure that u were genuinely shocked when u saw her here… The day she came her.”
“I was shocked, NK. She hadn’t told me that she was coming… Neither about the interview… Nor the appointment…”
“It was a surprise for him.”
“Now enough all of you… My wife need some rest… HP bring some juice and fruits to my room…”
“Wife…. And room… Y would he bring those to your room Chote… She is a guest here… Right… And she stays in the guest room… If my memory is correct…”
He faked a glare and lifted Khushi up… And carried her upstairs in bridal style…
“HP… Juice… He yelled from upstairs…”
Too short??? Too long??? I don’t know… Thanks for reading and sry for the mistakes…
I’ll try to continue my SS as soon as i can… I’m lazy as it is… And then i am not sure whether someone rly reads it… So that made me lazier…. Sry…