Part 44 Rituals...
Khushi stroked the mangal sutra that was beautifying her neck in a NEW means. Until morning, it was just a jewel. But now, its greatness changed totally. It was tied by Arnav... As he tied it around her neck, he became her husband. Their marriage got registered legally today. And before this day got over, they became husband and wife ritually. She had no doubt Arnav did that deliberately all his sense. He just didn't stop with mangal sutra and vermilion but completed seven phares too. Why so urgent? Their wedding has been fixed already. Then what's necessary to rush? What's in his mind? She knew he wanted to marry her. But she didn't expect he will take such a big step without thinking... Or, maybe, after thinking about it well... She was legally and also ritually his wife now... No matter whether she accepted it or not.
Khushi looked at Arnav who entered the room, sealing the door. Arnav stood looking at Khushi... Especially looking at her hand that was caressing the mangal sutra. A lonely tear dropped from her eye. Arnav choked devastating.
Khushi turned her face opposite to him that pricked him. Taking a few long steps, he reached her. Clutching her upper hand, Arnav turned her towards him to make her look at him. He saw her teary eyes and trembling lips.
"Why are you crying, Khushi?" He asked repenting.
"Why did you do this, Arnavji?" She asked sadly.
"Why Khushi? So what if I do that?" He asked a little harshly.
"Do you ask me why? You tied mangal sutra on my neck... Filled my partition... Circled the holy fire clutching my hand ... what we did is nothing but a marriage... We got married ritually... We became husband and wife" she said as if he didn't know about them.
"Yes, we are husband and wife now... So, what?" he asked her back.
"Can't you understand what I'm saying...? or... are you pretending?" she asked wearily.
"What so big deal, Khushi? We registered for our wedding today... legally. We are already married legally even before we performed the rituals. What do you think? Is not that marriage? It does not matter whether we married ritually or not. But legal marriage always matters. LAW needs proof and we submitted it. You became my heir legally when you signed the wedding papers. You did not feel disturbed then...? In fact, you got disturbed when your mangal sutra got cut... the mangal sutra that I didn't tie on your neck. Why? Why did you get disturbed? Why did you feel bad? Why did you think something may happen to me if I'm not related to your mangal sutra?" he yelled.
Khushi got stuck.
"Tell me Khushi... Why did you bother about the mangal sutra that got cut? Why did you feel sentimental? Didn't you say we are husband and wife? Then why are you feeling awkward when I tied the mangal sutra on your neck?"
Khushi didn't know what to answer. She stood numb. She didn't know what she really feels. Arnav cupped her face.
"Khushi, listen, you are confused... You are confused about accepting this relationship. From here on, there is nothing to be confused about. According to this world, we are already husband and wife. hereafter, we are husband and wife not just for the world but also for ourselves. Understand that and accept me..." he said emotionally.
Her eyes roamed on his face restlessly.
"Khushi, I can understand from your eyes how deliberately you want to live with me. Just give a chance to this relationship, Khushi. You won't repent... Trust me..."
Khushi closed her eyes spilling tears.
"Khushi, don't close your eyes. look at me..." He ordered.
Khushi opened her eyes.
"I will give you one last chance... If you truly don't want this relationship, if you truly don't like me, remove the mangal sutra and give it back to me" he said gulping down.
Khushi's expression became shocked. Her eyes became more restless than before. Arnav's hold on her face loosened. He extended his hand towards her asking for the mangal sutra back. Khushi looked at his hand and then his face with a horrible expression.
"Give it, Khushi..." He tightened his jaws.
Khushi bit her lip.
"Ok fine... I'm the one who tied it... Let me remove it by myself..." He tried to touch the mangal sutra, Khushi shrugged his hand and was about to rush from there, Arnav clutched her upper hands.
"Why? Why don't you want me to remove it?" He asked gritting his teeth.
"What rubbish are you asking? Is it a game or what? What do you think of me? I might be brought up in a home but we know the values of our rituals as well as mangal sutra." she exclaimed.
"What value are going to give it?" he asked the million-dollar question.
She again got stuck.
"Khushi... I know what's there's in your mind... Stop thinking about our differences. I just have broken all the damn differences by tying the mangal sutra... It's over... It's dead..."
Khushi closed her eyes gaping. Arnav turned opposite to her. she wiped her face.
"Khushi... I love you and you know that. I don't know what else do you want..." He closed his eyes helplessly.
He opened his eyes jerking. He looked down at his waist where Khushi's hands were being entwined. She was hugging him from behind crying, leaning on his back, making him awestruck.
"I don't want anything, Arnavji... I want nothing..." She choked.
Arnav turned towards her and wiped her tears.
"Why are you crying?"
"I don't know... I feel like crying..." She said.
Arnav pitied her.
"Ok... Could you answer my questions?" he asked.
She looked down as she knew what will he ask.
"You can just nod..." he said softly.
She nodded ok.
"Are you fine with this relationship?"
She nodded yes pouting.
"Am I accepted as your husband?" he asked with a smile.
Khushi was silent.
"Just a nod..."
Khushi bit her lip and hugged him. Arnav hugged her back with a smile. They stayed in the hug for a while. After a while,
"Khushi..."
"Mmm?"
"I think all the wives are the same..." he said feeling sad.
"Means?"
"They are not at all pay attention to their husbands... I asked you to nod... But see, what you are doing? Instead of nodding your head, you hugged me..." He said with fake sadness.
Khushi was about to break the hug, Arnav gripped her more.
"But, I'm not a common husband... I will accept all the hugs of my wife happily" he said as if he was sacrificing something big.
Khushi chuckled softly.
"Can't I hear the three magical words?" Arnav asked.
Khushi was silent.
"Khushi say something"
She nodded NO.
"Do you think you can be leaning on my chest for long?"
She blushed.
"Are you really feeling shy?"
Khushi smiled, biting her lip.
"It seems I have to go long..." he sighed.
That's when they heard a knock on the door. Khushi looked at Arnav, raising her head.
"Shhh...don't talk," Arnav said whispering.
"Why?"
"Let them go back thinking that we are not in the room," he said.
Khushi dropped her jaw. Again the door was knocked. Khushi was about to say something, Arnav closed her mouth.
"Won't you listen to what I say?" he said.
Khushi looked at the door, widening her eyes. Arnav chuckled. He went to the door and opened it. He saw Shyam standing. Arnav smiled at him.
"Happy married life, Sale Sahib" he wished Arnav.
Arnav looked at him calmly.
"I heard you guys got married with rituals today" Shyam smiled.
Arnav nodded yes casually.
"How was the feel Khushi?" Shyam asked.
Khushi smiled awkwardly.
"Let's go downstairs for dinner" Shyam called them.
Arnav beckoned Khushi. She followed him. They came downstairs. The dining table got filled with Arnav and Khushi's wedding style. Arnav didn't react to it much but Khushi was suffocating.
"This is your perfect wedding day, am I right?" Shyam asked.
Khushi smiled.
"What about fulfilling it, Rani Sahiba?" Shyam asked contently.
"Do you want them to perform grahapravesh etc., etc.,?"
Anjali smiled meaningfully. Arnav looked at Khushi who was silently eating.
"Di, stop teasing" he stood, finishing dinner.
"Chotte, what's this? Wait and take Khushi with you"
Arnav raised his brows.
"You guys got married ritually. Just give heed to it" Anjali chided.
"I always do..." Arnav sat back and waited for Khushi.
Khushi finished eating. She stood looking at Arnav.
"Shall we go?" Arnav asked.
"Of course, Chotte... all the best" Anjali chuckled.
Arnav nodded his head left to right and went to his room. When they entered, someone closed the door from outside. Arnav and Khushi got stuck, seeing the decorated bed.
To be continued...