THE MIRAGE by GoldenHaze
Chapter-6 The Midnight Sun
Part-1
People suddenly started moving here and there as Garima, Buaji and Shashi along with Payal Anjali and nani headed towards the inner palace while Aakash tried to relax. Anjali added as an after thought, "chote you and Khushiji just be by the pool side while we make arrangement for Grihapravesh here. After that we shall resume tomorrow! "
Arnav started walking towards the Lord Governer ki kothi and found Khushi dragging herself to catch up with him. One thing he noticed was Shyam was no where in sight. During the Jaymal he was there but mostly taking care of all the relatives from their side and entertaining them. After that he was not to be seen. At all! May be he did not want to attend the wedding!
He sat on one of the benches provided and Khushi kept standing. "Sit" he ordered eventually. She sat besides him but he could make out ...very gingerly. He was a little intrigued by the whole thing.
They had lit the pool side with the posts bordering it decorated with lanterns and it really looked very beautiful. The sky was clear and owing to the height of the Sheesh Mahal, being perched on the cliff and above the town of Ranpur the stars were pretty clear and Arnav realised that if not for the strange situation he would have enjoyed the arrangements and the scene.
As he thought of what his future action would be he felt a slight increase in the weight of his left shoulder."What the f#$%" he turned and was speechless as his brides head rested on his shoulder and she dozed off or rather crashed due to exhaution. Arnav panicked for a second and checked whether she was breathing alright and found her ok.
Though it was not a full moon there was moonlight and coupled with the light from the lantern, it glowed showing shadows everywhere giving the whole place a very cozy look. Khushi's head was on his shoulder while the rest of her body was turned towards the pool. Arnav moved towards Khushi involuntarily as he saw her neck craning to get support. As he moved she turned and put her hand on his chest. The nose ring she was wearing had a chain attached to it that went to her ear and it tickled him as he tried to adjust on the bench.
ArnavSinghRaizada! entangled in a situation which was beyond his reasoning was never going to be believed! But here he was! And he hadn't any clue as to what was happening and why! So much for his thinking that he could have everything under his control. What was this Shyam up to? And Khushi from what he has seen looked innocent! She is very poised classy and very simple!
"Common! Who knows what lies beneath the deceptive looks!" His inner self chided him. But his keen business sense has given him a perceptive eye which told him that his understanding was contrary to the actuals! And his hunch was never wrong. Something was amiss but Khushi looked innocent. Atleast for now! Whatever but his Di and her happiness cannot be compromised at any cost. He pinged Aman if the bank statements were procured and Aman after trying to evade finally gave in and sent a mail. The poor signals were making it difficult for him to open the attachments on his mail when Anjali and others joined them with the thaal and ready to perform the Grihapravesh rasam.
They all saw a handsome groom with his beautiful bride on his arm who was deep in sleep. The picture was perfect and adorable."Khushi uth!" Garima tried to wake her daughter. Khushi nudged her nose further into Arnav's chest and would not wake up. Arnav now had to put an arm round her to maintain his balance. Then... as if sensing him she opened her eyes slowly and Arnav was a witness to one of the most beautiful moments of his life!
Her eyes opened red sleepy and child like. She closed them for an instant and opened them again focussing against the blur and looked at the brown orbs of fathomless depths staring right through her. She could not avert her eyes as the eyes of her husband held hers and bore into them as if.... as if seeking an answer! Why did she feel so! She stared back mesmerised by the beautiful eyes that were soft in contrast to the ruthless and powerful man who they belonged to!
There was a glint in them that told her that the man could be naughty when he wanted to be. The subtle narrowing of them told her that he can be merciless but its the light in them the shine that gave her hope. Cause it made him look very loving. There was a hint of innate goodness in them that appealed to her and that one would miss easily behind the facade ASR built for himself. Can i ever reach behind and make those eyes look at me with care affection and passion? How would they be if he actually loved me? Khushi contemplated?
The eyes that were focussed on her looked contemplative as if they were assessing her. Khushi also found that he was fighting with something and was reluctant from inside. Gosh! Jiji told her many times her jeth ji's face remained inscrutable as his moods but how did she miss it, that ASR had such expressive eyes? or was she the only one able to read it? "Does he acknowledge the fact that he married me by force and i may not like to be with him? Many questions came up in Khushi's mind and reflected in her eyes!
She was reading him damnit! This was not what he wanted. He never wanted his opponent to know him well nor his next move. That took away the power in his strike! Arnav knew Khushi was able to see through him. Her eyes were very expressive and every single of her expression was evident to him. Her hope, her analysis, her doubts and worst of all when she acknowledged his inner self being soft. Hell!!! This is the worst thing ever. He has to be indifferent for him to do what he has deigned for himself and this kind of entanglement is not welcome.
"Khushiji aap zindagi bhar dekh sakthey hain ! License milgayaa hai! lekin hum sonaa chahthey hai agar aap donon ka yeh ek rasm hogayaa ho th!" Anjali's teasing brought both of them out of their respective thoughts. Khushi jerked to get free of Arnav and her nose ring and the chain got stuck in his sherwani. She tried to pull but could not free herselves.
"Wait" Arnav chided her and kept his other hand in between her ear and his chest and tried freeing it and as he did that his fingers brushed her cheek. Khushi blushed as his touch sent shivers down her spine and when Arnav lifted his eyes to hers he saw a young woman with eyes full of hope and dreams. His gaze hardened. Damn it! Why in the world is he in this fix.
Khushi saw her husband hardened gaze and felt very uncomfortable. What is the reason for his blow hot blow cold behaviour! As a matter of fact why did he choose to marry her. All the relatives were told that the families mutually fixed the match. While Nani and Di and Jiji told her that ASR personally expressed his wish to marry her as he wanted her. WANTED HER? without even seeing her! This did not fit at all. Anywhere! And the man if he married her out of love... er lust or whatever has not shown one sign of it!
For the life of her she did not understand his motive. She felt a strange fear grip her. What if he was a sadist or a pervert! No! No! common Khushi it cannot be so ! Buck up! She mentally patted herself. As she was freed from him she got up and to her chagrin found herself sinking to the ground as her legs gave away! Arnav caught her before she collapsed! "What are you trying to do lady ?",he yelled at her!
....to be continued
ArnavSinghRaizada! entangled in a situation which was beyond his reasoning was never going to be believed! But here he was! And he hadn't any clue as to what was happening and why! So much for his thinking that he could have everything under his control. What was this Shyam up to? And Khushi from what he has seen looked innocent! She is very poised classy and very simple!
"Common! Who knows what lies beneath the deceptive looks!" His inner self chided him. But his keen business sense has given him a perceptive eye which told him that his understanding was contrary to the actuals! And his hunch was never wrong. Something was amiss but Khushi looked innocent. Atleast for now! Whatever but his Di and her happiness cannot be compromised at any cost. He pinged Aman if the bank statements were procured and Aman after trying to evade finally gave in and sent a mail. The poor signals were making it difficult for him to open the attachments on his mail when Anjali and others joined them with the thaal and ready to perform the Grihapravesh rasam.
They all saw a handsome groom with his beautiful bride on his arm who was deep in sleep. The picture was perfect and adorable."Khushi uth!" Garima tried to wake her daughter. Khushi nudged her nose further into Arnav's chest and would not wake up. Arnav now had to put an arm round her to maintain his balance. Then... as if sensing him she opened her eyes slowly and Arnav was a witness to one of the most beautiful moments of his life!
Her eyes opened red sleepy and child like. She closed them for an instant and opened them again focussing against the blur and looked at the brown orbs of fathomless depths staring right through her. She could not avert her eyes as the eyes of her husband held hers and bore into them as if.... as if seeking an answer! Why did she feel so! She stared back mesmerised by the beautiful eyes that were soft in contrast to the ruthless and powerful man who they belonged to!
There was a glint in them that told her that the man could be naughty when he wanted to be. The subtle narrowing of them told her that he can be merciless but its the light in them the shine that gave her hope. Cause it made him look very loving. There was a hint of innate goodness in them that appealed to her and that one would miss easily behind the facade ASR built for himself. Can i ever reach behind and make those eyes look at me with care affection and passion? How would they be if he actually loved me? Khushi contemplated?
The eyes that were focussed on her looked contemplative as if they were assessing her. Khushi also found that he was fighting with something and was reluctant from inside. Gosh! Jiji told her many times her jeth ji's face remained inscrutable as his moods but how did she miss it, that ASR had such expressive eyes? or was she the only one able to read it? "Does he acknowledge the fact that he married me by force and i may not like to be with him? Many questions came up in Khushi's mind and reflected in her eyes!
She was reading him damnit! This was not what he wanted. He never wanted his opponent to know him well nor his next move. That took away the power in his strike! Arnav knew Khushi was able to see through him. Her eyes were very expressive and every single of her expression was evident to him. Her hope, her analysis, her doubts and worst of all when she acknowledged his inner self being soft. Hell!!! This is the worst thing ever. He has to be indifferent for him to do what he has deigned for himself and this kind of entanglement is not welcome.
"Khushiji aap zindagi bhar dekh sakthey hain ! License milgayaa hai! lekin hum sonaa chahthey hai agar aap donon ka yeh ek rasm hogayaa ho th!" Anjali's teasing brought both of them out of their respective thoughts. Khushi jerked to get free of Arnav and her nose ring and the chain got stuck in his sherwani. She tried to pull but could not free herselves.
"Wait" Arnav chided her and kept his other hand in between her ear and his chest and tried freeing it and as he did that his fingers brushed her cheek. Khushi blushed as his touch sent shivers down her spine and when Arnav lifted his eyes to hers he saw a young woman with eyes full of hope and dreams. His gaze hardened. Damn it! Why in the world is he in this fix.
Khushi saw her husband hardened gaze and felt very uncomfortable. What is the reason for his blow hot blow cold behaviour! As a matter of fact why did he choose to marry her. All the relatives were told that the families mutually fixed the match. While Nani and Di and Jiji told her that ASR personally expressed his wish to marry her as he wanted her. WANTED HER? without even seeing her! This did not fit at all. Anywhere! And the man if he married her out of love... er lust or whatever has not shown one sign of it!
For the life of her she did not understand his motive. She felt a strange fear grip her. What if he was a sadist or a pervert! No! No! common Khushi it cannot be so ! Buck up! She mentally patted herself. As she was freed from him she got up and to her chagrin found herself sinking to the ground as her legs gave away! Arnav caught her before she collapsed! "What are you trying to do lady ?",he yelled at her!
....to be continued
No comments:
Post a Comment