Chapter 4

Unable to control her excitement, Asha had insisted that they reach Gupta house for the Shagun ceremony the very next morning.

And so, Khushi had found herself sitting in the living room along with her parents, brother, and her to-be-in-laws, as they began the said ritual.  Of course, Aman had teased her about Arnav’s absence.  Apart from the fact that he was at the hospital performing a surgery right now, he wasn’t allowed to be here according to the rules, apparently.

Asha placed the red coloured dupatta on Khushi’s head and smiled down at her affectionately.  Khushi gave her a shy smile and things remained that way while the gifts were given to Khushi.  At the end of all the exchanges, Khushi sought blessings from Asha and Arvind.

The Raizada’s and the Gupta's had settled for lunch soon after. The conversation was light and cheerful and Khushi found herself more at ease with her to-be-in-laws as the time wore on.

“I can’t wait until the sangeet and all that fun stuff!”  Aman exclaimed.  “All of these other rituals are always done by the elders...There’s no fun in it for us.”

Asha chuckled at him.  “Actually...our family tradition also includes the Tilak ceremony...in which you would be the one accepting Arnav into your family...”

“Oh, really?”  Aman looked excited at the idea of a ceremony where he would be able to pull Arnav’s leg without earning those famous glares.  “When is that?”

“We’ll go over to their house tomorrow morning and complete the ritual.”  Garima smiled at her son.

“Hear that, Khushi?  You’ll get to see your future home tomorrow!”  Aman teased, making Khushi throw him a look of annoyance.

“No she won’t.”  Garima laughed at her son and shook her head.  “The bride doesn’t attend the Tilak just like the groom doesn’t attend the Shagun.”

Aman rolled his eyes.  “I’m going to opt for a court register marriage...this traditional stuff is so complicated...it’s got more rules than the Physician’s code of conduct!”

Aman’s comment earned a round of healthy laughter around the table.

“But you’re right about one thing...Khushi will get to see her future home soon.”  Asha smiled at Khushi and turned to look at Garima.  “I know that traditionally the girl doesn’t go to her in-laws home before the wedding but it is the nineteenth century...and I would like her to meet Maaji.  She’s still recovering so we made her stay at home today but she wasn’t happy about missing out on today’s Rasam...”

Garima, being the old-fashioned woman that she was, was a bit apprehensive about the idea but before she could utter a word, her husband beat her to it.

“Of course, Mrs. Raizada.  It’s important that Khushi has Maaji’s blessings before we proceed with the other rituals.”  He smiled kindly and pressed his wife’s hand under the table to keep her from voicing her apprehension.

And hence, two hours later, Khushi had found herself seated in the luxurious BMW as it pulled onto the driveway of ‘Shantivan’.  She allowed herself to take in the long driveway adorned with knee-tall, manicured shrubs and plants.  On either side of the driveway, a few years of lawn stretched out invitingly.  She was slightly appalled when the house came into view.  She didn’t know what she was expecting but she was sure it wasn’t this.

She had expected a large bungalow, like theirs, not a freaking mansion that looked big enough to fit three families!  She glanced around the estate and smiled at the lush plantation and exotic blooms.  There was a tasteful collection of roses, jasmines, peonies, lilies, and other flowers that she didn’t know the names of, including those that she had never even seen before.

“Arnav loves plants...he’s pretty much the gardener of Shantivan....”  Asha chuckled.

Khushi smiled and averted her eyes.  Weren’t mother-in-laws supposed be all strict and mean and controlling?  Asha’s easy-going nature was constantly taking Khushi by surprise.  She knew that it wasn’t very polite to stereotype people but Bollywood movies and TV soaps in her teenage years had instilled an idea of horrific mother-in-laws.  Asha, clearly, was nowhere close to that!

As they climbed up the short flight of stairs, Khushi paused at the threshold and recalled her mother’s words.

“Aye Khushi!  When you go there...behave yourself.  Don’t talk more than necessary...fix the dupatta, sanka devi!  Hey Devi Maiyya...oh...make sure you enter the house by putting your right foot forward!  Aaj kal ke bacche (Kids these days)...you have to explain them everything!”

Khushi suppressed a chuckle at the memory of her mother’s frantic words and, as she had advised, took the first step into the house by placing her right foot first.  She let her gaze linger around the vast living room, taking in the elegant wooden furniture in tasteful colours and the graceful staircase against the wall leading to the second level.  Beyond the tall wide windows, she saw an indoor garden.  The entire house had a distinct scent to it which seemed to have a calming effect on her frazzled nerves.  She recognized the scent as Lavender.

As they made their way, presumably, towards Dadi’s room, she understood why.  There were small potted lavender plants scattered around the room fashionably.

Arvind knocked gently on the clouded glass panel on the door which was responded by a soft voice.  Khushi felt a flutter of nervousness yet again and she silently wondered how long it will be before she stopped feeling that way.

Asha and Arvind led Khushi into the room cheerfully and she came face-to-face with an elderly lady sitting in a lounger, holding a copy of the Ramayana.  The elder lady’s eyes lit up instantly as they took in Khushi’s form clad in a red churidaar while her long, thick, and dark hair cascaded down her back. 

Khushi walked up to the lady, touched her feet as she sought blessings, and came back up folding her hands in a respectful greeting.

“Namaste Dadiji.”

“Jeeti Raho, Khushi Bitiya...”  Devyani smiled at the young woman as she stood up from her seat.

Khushi automatically offered Devyani her hand when her balance seemed to falter.  Smiling at her, Devyani took her hand and led her to the bed.

“How did you know I am Khushi?”  Khushi questioned as they sat down.

“Arvind showed me a picture...and Asha hasn’t stopped talking about how beautiful her bahu is...”  Devyani smiled when she saw Khushi turn a beetroot red.

“Now you’ve seen her yourself...can you blame me for wanting to brag about her?”  Asha giggled.

“Definitely not...I have to give my sons credit for that though...”  Devyani looked fondly at her son.  “Arvind found Asha and Arnav has found you...”

Khushi shifted slightly uncomfortably at all the praises.  She didn’t know how she should respond mainly because she wasn’t used to open praises about her looks.  And the racing of her heartbeat at the mention of Arnav didn’t help the matters.

For the next hour or so, Devyani asked Khushi a bunch of questions to try and get her know better.  Khushi, after initial nervousness, answered all the questions and felt the connection with Dadi almost immediately. 

Khushi had never known her grandparents.  Garima’s parents had passed away with a gap of a few weeks before Aman was even born.  Shashi’s father had passed away when Shashi himself was a teenager while his mother had passed away when Aman was a year old.  For the first time in her life, Khushi wished that she had a chance to meet all of them.

“Asha...Arvind...if you don’t mind, may I talk to Khushi alone for a few minutes?” 

Nodding in approval and smiling encouragingly at Khushi, Asha and Arvind exited the room.  Khushi twisted the end of her dupatta in her hands and Devyani couldn’t help but smile at Khushi’s nervous stance.

“Don’t worry...this isn’t one of those moments when you learn that the seemingly old woman is actually a vamp and will be out to ruin your married life.”  Devyani chuckled.  “The treatment you get will be no different from the one Arnav gets.  Sons, daughters, daughter-in-laws...everyone is equal under this roof.  I don’t care what those TV shows show but you’ll never be treated like a daughter-in-law here....”

Khushi relaxed and allowed herself to laugh at Dadi’s reference to TV soaps.

“I know that kids of your generation tend to be apprehensive about arranged marriages and I don’t blame you guys.  Times have changed...priorities have changed and it is becoming increasingly difficult to trust people outside of your family and close friends.  I guess, the fact that our families are close makes it a bit easier...but even then, complete honesty is needed to form any new relationships.  If I’m going to be honest with you then I need to tell you that marriage wasn’t Arnav’s priority...”

Khushi nodded.  “I know Dadi...he’s doing this for you.”

Dadi nodded, with a fond expression on her face as she thought of her grandson.  “And that’s why I wanted to speak to you alone.  Please don’t ever feel that he won’t put any effort into this marriage...he may have made the decision to get married for my sake but I can vouch for him.  He will give you the care, attention, and love that you, as his wife, deserve.”

Love?!  Wife?!  The two words in one sentence unexpectedly conjured up an image in her mind which unnerved her.  Khushi’s cheeks burned and her head felt light. 

“The only thing you might complain about is him not being able to give you enough time and his temper.”  Dadi approached with caution.  When she found Khushi listening intently, she went on.  “As a doctor...his work hours tend to be scattered and sometimes long...sometimes he has to leave in the middle of the night if there is an emergency...”

Khushi pressed Dadi’s hands supportively.  “I know Dadi...my brother is in the same situation...and I’ve seen my Papa work day and night to make his company what it is today...So I understand...”

Devyani looked at the petite girl in front of her with affection.  “And his temper...?”

Khushi averted her eyes.  That was the one thing that had managed to plant a little inkling of fear in her mind.  She was from a relatively calm family and hadn’t had to experience other people’s temper too much, although, she had a bad temper when she was pushed to her limits.

“He tends to be calm most of the times...he doesn’t like to talk about himself or his feelings too much...he’s too busy trying to make everyone else happy...he bottles up all these emotions and eventually...all of that is expressed in the form of temper...”  Dadi seemed a bit sad as she spoke of this.

Khushi recalled how during her conversation with him, she had gathered that he didn’t seem to like talking about himself much.  She wasn’t wrong after all.

“He may struggle to put his feelings into words but his actions speak for him...I can’t defend his temper bursts but I can request you to look past them...I don’t want you to think the worst of him if you ever, God forbid, end up at the receiving end of his wrath.”

Khushi thought about Dadi’s earnest words for a long minute before nodding.  “I’ll keep that in mind, Dadi...Maa always says that after a girl gets married, she has to learn new ways of dealing with new situations...and if I have you guiding me like this, then I have nothing to worry about.  You can be my superhero and I’ll sort of be your sidekick!”

Khushi ended the conversation on a light note making Devyani chuckle with her.  “Asha is right...you’re like a burst of life...of happiness...your name suits you well.”  Devyani caressed Khushi’s hair gently.

“Papa says the same thing.”  Khushi beamed.

_____

“Wow...you’re really good!”  Asha exclaimed as she stood next to Khushi in the kitchen, observing her.

“Maa taught me when I was around twelve...I’ve been making them since.”  Khushi smiled as she drew another swirl of jalebi batter in the piping hot oil.

“You really shouldn’t have told me...now I’ll have you make them for me all the time.”  Asha bit into a fresh jalebi, savouring the sticky sweetness.

“Mom, I’m home!”  His voice was distant but loud and clear.

Khushi froze in the middle of drawing another swirl.

“I’ll be right back.”  Asha excused herself and walked out into the living room to greet her son.

Trying her best to ignore the fact that Arnav was in the same house, in the room next to the kitchen, Khushi resumed her favourite task of making jalebis.  Absent mindedly, she picked up one and bit into it urgently.

She realized, once again, that she hadn’t spoken to him since that day at her house. 

What would he ask if he sees me now?  What am I supposed to say?  Am I supposed to go and greet him or is that against the rules?  Would he eat the jalebis I made?  Would he like them?  Does he like sweets?  What if he doesn’t?  What if he’s super health conscious? 

“Khushi?”  Asha’s voice brought Khushi out of her jumbled thoughts.  “Would you mind taking a cup of coffee to Arnav?”

Khushi looked at her wide eyed.  Take coffee to Arnav?  Meaning...she’d have to meet him?  Was that even allowed?  Wasn’t there some rule about the girl and the guy not meeting before marriage?

“I won’t tell your mother that you met him today.” Asha whispered in a conspiring tone.  Chuckling, she placed a hand on Khushi’s shoulder.  “I know that you’re nervous but the more you meet him, the more you speak to him...the more comfortable you two will become with each other...it will make the first few days after your marriage a lot easier if you get to know him now.”

Khushi watched on with her mouth slightly opened in surprise as Asha touched her cheek gently and then walked into one of the rooms.  Aman’s words came back to her then.  He’d said that the Raizada’s were modern...that she would have all the freedom.  Asha was completely different from Garima when it came to following traditions and customs.  Garima wouldn’t approve of this, Khushi knew.

But Asha had a point.  This feeling of nervousness and such was new for Khushi.  And she didn’t like it.  She was a confident woman and she didn’t like feeling this way.  If seeing him more and speaking to him more is the way to get rid of this unsettling feeling....

Khushi nodded in approval to Asha’s suggestion.

“Great!”  Asha clapped her hands excitedly.  “Arnav’s coffee is easy...no sugar, no milk.  Simple black coffee.” 

                     

“Ugh...” The word rolled off of Khushi’s tongue before she could stop it.

“I couldn’t agree more.  The father and son and their black coffee...you couldn’t pay me to drink that stuff.  Anyway...Arnav is in the living room.”  Asha picked up a jalebi and spoke with a naughty glint in her eyes.  “I haven’t told him that you’re here, yet.  Surprises are fun...”

Munching on the sweet delicacy, Asha left the kitchen after giving Khushi a teasing smile.  Even as she blushed, Khushi made the coffee, trying not to think too much about the upcoming meeting.  As she picked up the tray with the coffee mug atop it, her stance didn’t betray an ounce of the flutters in her stomach.  She strode out of the kitchen confidently and thanked the stars that he was sitting with his back to her.

She walked around the couch to find him with his head buried in some file.  She paused a few steps away from the couch as she faced another dilemma.

How do I call out to him?

Arnav?  Arnavji?  Mr. Raizada?  Err...Dr. Raizada?  Dr. Arnav?  Suniyeji?!  Wait...What-the-

The rest of her thought flew out the hypothetical window because at that moment, he turned to look at her. 

Arnav was reviewing the pathology reports of one of his patients when he had the feeling that someone was watching him.  As soon as that thought had formed in his mind, he had heard some faint muttering.  He’d turned in the direction of the sound only to find himself surprised.

He stood up with a jerk, still unable to digest that Khushi was here.  Khushi stood slightly wide-eyed at his reaction.

“Khushi?!”  He blurted the question.

“Uh...Hi...err...your coffee...?”  She pushed the tray towards him.

Confused as ever, Arnav reached out a little unsurely and picked up the mug.  “You...here?”

“I came to meet Dadi...”  Khushi smiled.

“Ah...did you meet her already?”

Khushi nodded.  “Yeah...we talked for a couple hours.”

Arnav motioned towards the couch for her to take a seat.  He waited until Khushi sat down before taking the seat next to her, making sure that he kept comfortable distance.  “I take it you and her got along, then?”

“Oh, absolutely.”  Khushi smiled to herself.  “She’s a sweetheart.”

Silence befell them and they resolutely avoided looking at each other for the next few minutes.  Asha, who was observing this from the second floor’s landing, slapped her own forehead in exasperation.  This isn’t what she had been hoping for when she’d suggested that Khushi to meet him.  Deciding that she needed to intervene again, she called out to Arnav.

“Why don’t you show her the house?”

Arnav nodded at her and stood up while taking a sip of coffee.  Khushi smiled up at Asha and followed Arnav.  Arnav started the tour from the bottom floor before taking her upstairs where he pointed out the bedrooms.  By instinct, he had decided to leave his bedroom, their future bedroom, for last.

As the minutes passed by and the tour of the house lengthened, Arnav and Khushi became more at ease with talking to each other.  Khushi felt the nervousness and awkwardness ebb away slowly.  The more of the house he showed her, the more she fell in love with the place.

The interior of the entire house was done in subtle and sober colours along with perfectly fitting furniture and various small potted plants scattered around—most of them being Lavendar.  They even had a medium sized room which housed the elegant idle of Devi Maiyya.  She knew that in the days that followed her marriage, the temple room will be one of her favourite places in the house.

Or that’s what she’d thought until they ended up in his room.

“No way!  You actually have your personal pool?”  Khushi gasped as she stepped out through the French doors onto the poolside area.

She turned a full 360 degrees on the spot, taking in the small pool, the smooth marble ledge that ran its perimeter, the clear glass rooftop above and the numerous plants against the walls.  She realized that this was the indoor garden that she had seen from the living room.

“It's too small to swim in but this is my favourite spot in the house...”  Arnav leaned against the door pane and watched her with amusement.

In her mind, she admitted that this area of the house was likely going to be her favourite too.  She sat on the ledge at the corner of the pool and put her hand in the cool water.  She looked over her shoulder and found him looking at her with an unreadable expression.

“I could get used to this....” the words rolled off of her tongue as she turned away.

Arnav pushed himself off the pane and took a step closer to her exactly at the moment when her eyes widened in realization of she’d just blurted.

“Can I ask you a question?”  His voice sounded husky all of a sudden.

She didn’t turn to face him but answered anyway while her hand swirled the water in the pool gently.  “Sure.”

“Don’t get offended...but...Your parents and Aman didn’t pressurize you for this marriage, did they?  There was no coercion?”

Her head snapped around to look at him.  “Of course not...bhai and I wouldn’t stand for that...my family wouldn’t force me into anything...”

She turned back to the water and he felt himself relax a little bit.  His first concern after finding out that she had agreed had been whether or not anyone had pressurized her.  Everyone had agreed to the alliance except for her, and he was worried that people may have emotionally blackmailed her into saying yes.  But that wasn’t the case and that brought him to his second question.

“You said yes to this alliance......why?”

He saw her shrug gently, still not looking at him.  “For the same reasons that you did.”

She pulled her hand out of the water and wiggled her fingers to jerk off the remaining water drops.  She stood up, took a deep breath and let it out before turning to face him.

“After I talked to you...after your responses to my questions and after everything that my parents and bhai have told me about you...I didn’t have a reason to say no...”  She averted her gaze for a couple of seconds and bit her lower lip, contemplating her next words.  “And...I...wanted to say yes.”

Her honest and bold response was met with an astonished gaze while he registered her words.  He didn’t verbalize it but Khushi saw the obvious next question written all over his face.  Why?

She smiled and decided to explain.  “No matter how much we deny it...all of us have a criterion....a sort of a rubric for the kind of life partner we want and when we come across someone, especially in arranged marriage situations, you compare that individual to your rubric and see how far they match it.  As far as my rubric is concerned...you meet every single criterion to par....”

Her words trailed off when she saw him suppress a chuckle.  She narrowed her eyes at him, challenging him to state why he was laughing...or trying not to, anyway.

He cleared his throat before answering.  “I’m sorry...I just...you sound like a complete businesswoman...it’s amusing...”  Arnav chuckled and shook his head.  “You sound just like Anjali...she talks the same way.”

He raised an eyebrow when he saw Khushi’s eyes widen slightly as if she’d just realized something.  Before he could ask, Asha knocked on the door to his room and entered hearing Arnav’s ‘Come in’.

“Khushi...Garima called...she got worried when you didn’t pick up your cell but I told her that you’re here and that you’ll be heading home soon.” Naina smiled kindly.

“Oh...Thank you...I think I forgot my phone downstairs...”  Khushi walked up and absent-mindedly stopped next to Arnav.

“Did you like the house?”  Asha questioned.

“Very much.  You have a beautiful home!”  Khushi glanced around to the poolside area once more.

Asha touched Khushi’s cheek affectionately.  “And you’re about to become a part of this home...”  She looked from her son to her future daughter-in-law affectionately.  “You two look great together...”

Khushi looked down at her toes in an attempt to hide the blush creeping into her cheeks but she looked up at Asha’s next question.

“Arnav...you’ll drop her home, right?”   

“Of course mom...”  Arnav answered without a beat of hesitancy.

Khushi visited Arvind and Dadi to say goodbye before she left the house with Arnav, waving at Asha who stood at the entrance of the Mansion.  As they neared a black SUV, Arnav walked a couple steps ahead of her to get the door.  Smiling her thank you, Khushi took her seat and watched as he took long strides around the front of the car to get to the driver’s side.

They drove in companionable silence for a few minutes and in that time, Khushi stared out the window, thinking about the conversation with him today.  She already knew that he was a gentleman but his actions today had just reiterated the fact.  The fact that he had wanted to make sure that she wasn’t forced into this warmed her heart in an inexplicable manner even if he did laugh at her explanation about why she’d said yes.  That thought brought another question to her mind.

“Who’s Anjali?”  She questioned out of nowhere and for a second, Arnav looked taken aback.  “I’m sorry...I didn’t mean it to come out like that.  It’s just...you mentioned her earlier and I’m just wondering who it is...”

“Firstly, I’ve told you before that you can ask me any questions you have, Khushi...so don’t apologize...”  He glanced at her once and smiled.  “And Anjali is my younger sister...”

Khushi’s brows knit together.  “I haven’t met her yet...”

Arnav nodded and his expression became a tad bit disappointed.  “I don’t think you’ll have the chance to meet her before the wedding...she’s in New York for her studies and she has exams coming up...we haven’t even told her yet...knowing her, she’ll burst a vein and--”

“Pull over!”  Came the frantic command from Khushi.

Alarmed by her sudden request, Arnav pulled his car off to the side of the road immediately.  He turned to ask her what the hell had warranted the command but he found her going through her phone hastily.  In a couple of seconds, she pushed the phone towards him, the screen less than a hand’s distance from his face.

“Is this your sister?”

Arnav focused on the screen and the very next second, his eyes had gone wide and his jaw had fallen open slightly.

“Wha—how—you know her?!”  He questioned, prying his eyes away from a picture of Khushi and Anjali to look at the former sitting in front of him.

Khushi looked surprised at this new discovery as well but she managed a nod.  “She’s one of my best friends...we live together...”

Arnav shook his head.  “She told me she lives alone.”

Khushi winced.  “Crap...you weren’t supposed to know!  I forgot...”  Khushi’s expression turned to that of a sheepishly apologetic child.  “Please don’t tell her that I told you...she’ll kill me.  The thing is...we go to the same university and we became friends...and I moved in with her as her paying guest about a year and a half ago...she had told me that her brother was protective and didn’t approve of her living with people that he didn’t know...other than that, she doesn’t talk about you much...that’s why I didn’t make this connection earlier...”

Arnav looked between her and the picture on her phone for a few minutes before shaking his head as if trying to clear it.

“I’m guessing you haven’t told her about your pending engagement?  Because if you had...she would have figured out that I’m the guy you’re going to get engaged to and she would have already flown down here to give me an earful.”  Arnav spoke to himself more than her.

“I didn’t tell her because she would be difficult to deal with...I’m sure you know what her views on arranged marriages are...besides...things have happened so rapidly that I haven’t really had the chance to speak to her...”  Khushi looked at him for a moment.  “Why haven’t you guys told her?”

Arnav sighed and ran his free hand through his hair.  “I really want to but her exams are coming up...we haven’t told her about Dadi’s second attack...otherwise, she’ll leave everything and come back at once...telling her about my sudden engagement means telling her about Dadi...so Mom and Dad have decided to not say anything to her until after her exams.”

Khushi nodded and fell into a pool of thoughts for a long minute.  Arnav watched on as a small victorious smile appeared on her face. 

She turned to look at him and he found himself lost in the twinkling emerald eyes once again until she spoke.  “I have an idea...”

_____

The next morning, the living room of Shantivan was abuzz as the Gupta’s and Raizada’s met for the Tilak ceremony.  Arnav sat amidst the crowd and participated in conversations, hiding his slight disappointment at Khushi’s absence expertly.

“Isn’t this interesting??  Your parents welcomed Khushi into your family and today, we’ll welcome you into our family before you two have even exchanged rings!”  Aman tapped his chin thoughtfully.

“Haven’t you heard the saying that marriage doesn’t bind two individuals but two families?”  Asha giggled.

“I don’t know about that but I have heard the one that goes Saari Duniya Ek taraf aur joru ka Bhai ek taraf (The entire world is on one side and the wife’s brother is on the other).”  Aman threw a teasing glance in Arnav’s direction and rubbed his palms together gleefully.  “Better get ready Arnav...you’ll actually have to be nice to me from now on...”

“Shut up, Aman!”  Arnav rolled his eyes.

Aman clicked his tongue.  “It's okay...it will get some time getting used to...you’re forgiven this time...You’ll learn soon.”

Arnav smirked.  “We’ll see about that...Saale.”

Aman frowned for a moment.  “Damn it!  I can’t even say anything to that!  I’m actually your ‘Saala’...seriously...who thought of the husband having to call his wife’s brother ‘Saala’??  I mean...couldn’t they think of another word?!”

“Oh, they chose that word because it suits them, you see...”  Arnav smirked victoriously.

“Oh God!  Listen to these two...bickering like an old married couple...”  Devyani laughed as the two men made disgusted faces at being referred to as an old married couple.

“Leave your jokes for later...lets finish the ritual now...”  Garima stood up and motioned Aman to do the same.

Suddenly getting into a sombre mood, Aman followed his mother’s instructions on completing the ritual.  He pressed his thumb into red vermillion and drew a tika on Arnav’s forehead.

After the remaining exchanges of gifts, everyone was engaged in congratulatory hugs and handshakes as this union was finalized. 

Just as everyone was starting to calm down, the pandit announced that the suitable date for the engagement was the day after tomorrow.  The announcement brought about another round of cheers and congratulations.

Arnav found himself slightly disappointed that Khushi wasn’t here for that particular announcement.  He admitted to himself that he wanted to know what her reaction would be.  What her expression would portray when she learned that in less than 60 hours, she would officially become his finace.

Tweet