ARSHI SS: Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya...

PROLOGUE: Shuru hone se pahalee...

BANQUET HALL, THE OBEROI HOTEL, DELHI – 08:30 P.M.

 

The hall was decorated with twinkling lights and silk drapes and roses-lilies, people were buzzing and looking at the stage where the star couple of this evening have now finished exchanging engagement rings. Dressed in royal-blue and silver lehenga, matching diamond jewelleries and minimal makeup, today Anjali Raizada is glowing with happiness as she got engaged to her true love, Aman Mathur who is also smiling brightly and looking very handsome in royal-blue sherwani. They both smiled at each other happily while their eyes twinkling with adoration for one another and the guests clapped for the couple while the couple took blessings from the elders of their family.

 

 

 

After that Anjali took the mic in her hand, speaks: “Thank you everyone for coming today, it’s a really memorable day as I got the true love of my life, I’m so happy and grateful. So, wanting to make this day even more memorable, I want to make another announcement that would double the celebration.” all looked curiously at her then subtly looked at Guptas' and Raizadas’ who nodded in consent, “I want to announce NK bhai's engagement with Khushi.” finishing her grand announcement.

 

 

This brought another round of applause with the unexpected but overall taken as a happy announcement and another element to celebrate in this already joyous occasion. Khushi in pastel-pink organza lehenga with minimal makeup and light diamond jewellery was until few moments ago was smiling softly is now standing stupefied and completely blindsided. Though recovering soon turned towards her sister-in-law, stammering and stumbling over her words: “Di… Di yeh aap… Di what are you saying…? How can I get... I mean…'' feeling totally at loss.

 

 

Anjali came to her said: “Khushi we know, you still love that Arnav Singh Raizada, but he left you. How long are you going to wait for him to come back…? You have to accept it now that he is gone, and he isn’t going to come back. You deserve happiness that's why we are asking you to get married again.” putting a hand on her shoulder.

 

 

Looking pretty in her teal designer saree, matching jewellery and shimmering makeup, Payal steps beside her sister and adds: “Haan Khushi, Di is right, and you would be happy with Nahneji.” supporting her sister-in-law readily and completely tried to cajole her sister.

 

 

Buaji lets her opinion of agreement known when she says: “Haan Titaliya we all want to see you happy and move on in life, bhool jao uss Arnav Singh Raizada ko!” adjusted the pallu of her beige saree while wanting her niece to understand that this is all for her own good.

 

 

Khushi looked at disbelieve staring at everyone's face, how could they say things like this…? How could all forget everything Arnav had done for them all just like that…? How can after everything he could mean mothing to them…? It felt all too surreal and too much, like they were all strangers to her at the moment. It was like she is seeing some sort of ungrateful selfish side theirs but she shoved those thoughts aside for now as she had other important matters to deal with rather than dwelling on her thoughts. So, she firmly replied: “I don't care what you all think or believe but I'm Mrs. Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada and I am going to be Mrs. Raizada till my last breath.” wiping her tears, eyes ablaze with determination and stubborn conviction.

 

 

 

The Gupta and Raizada family stared at Khushi shocked as they hadn’t expected such an outright refusal, especially in front of all the guests since they had expected her to go with it for the reason of being in public. In fact, they were counting on it when they thought of ambushing Khushi like this in the middle of the event without any prior notice or warning, knowing that she wouldn’t create any scene and though probably later on would scream at them but they would make her understand. But seemed like she chooses this moment to show her ‘Mrs.-ASR-rebel-attitude’ instead of just going on with it being all ‘Little-Miss.-Obedient-Khushi-Gupta’ like usual. And didn’t this completely derail their plans which no one had expected and so the families were now stunned while the guests were watching the drama unfold in front of their eyes confused and fascinated as if wrecked accident.   

 

 

 

In order to somehow control the situation Lavanya came forward and stood beside her friend, says: “Chamkeli you still love the man who left you at alter and never turned up…? Chamkeli forget ASR, he isn't worth it!” trying to be persuasive. She looked beautiful and every bit of the pretty model that she is in her golden-crème silk saree paired with maroon sleeveless blouse, light matching gold jewellery and long curly hair trembling down her back.

 

 

Dressed in dark-green sherwani, Akash kindly adds: “Khushiji don't waste your life at such person who never valued you.” gave his opinion as he pushed his specs up the bridge of his nose.

 

 

Anjali in hopes of making her ex-sister-in-law whom she considers her sister now, starts saying: “Khushiji we understand you love Arnav lot but he doesn't deserve it, we want you happy and believe me you would do lot better without him. He isn't worth you or this love of yours. Chi! I'm disgusted that he is my brother after what he did to you. I don’t consider him my brother anymore, he is dea--” but she never got completing the sentence.

 

 

Having heard more than she could take or wanted, Khushi angrily shouted: “ENOUGH!! How could you say like this Di! I don't care what you all think but I've faith in my love and if anyone said again something bad about my Arnav, they would see the worst of me. And I'm never marrying anyone else, I would never and I mean NEVER GIVE ANYONE ELSE MY ARNAV'S PLACE, GET THAT CLEAR!!!” snapping and clearly at the end of her patience. She stormed out leaving the families and guests behind in dust without any backward glance with her heels clicking loudly and didn’t bother to hide her obvious rage either.

 

 

This whole thing had left the guests and families alike in stunned splendour which broke few minutes later of her exit which led the guests to start mumbled conversation among the guests as they gossiped. While the Gupta and Raizada family with the exception of few members were cursing Arnav Singh Raizada again for the umpteenth time for everything that didn’t go according to their plan. Payal says in frustration: “What has happened to Khushi, can't she see we want her happiness…?!” not understanding her sister’s attitude at all.

 

 

Buaji in agreement and sharing the same sentiment: “Curse you Arnav Singh Raizada for destroying our Titaliya’s life and making us bad people to her.” adds her two cents of verbal bashing while wanting her crazy niece to come to her senses.

 

 

Anjali bitterly says: “You did very wrong and I'm ashamed of you! I curse you that you would never be happy Arnav Singh Raizada. Tum jahaan kahi bhi kyun na ho, tum kabhi khush nahi rahoge!” cursed the man for the nth time who was once her beloved Chotte and couldn’t stop gashing but now only has unpleasant things left to say.

 

 

 

 

……

 

 

 

MUMBAI – 12:40 P.M.

 

 

A handsome man in early-thirties wearing black-green nightwear is seating in lawn chair leaning back while his head tipped back as if gazing at the bright starry sky holding a silver anklet in his right hand. He seems to be caressing the anklet softly with his fingers while lost in thoughts and thousands of emotions playing on his face which the rush of memories associated with them brought on. The train of his thoughts was broken by a voice addressing him: “What are you doing up so late at this time of night seating here alone like this…?” questioned him with warm motherly and concern tone clearly heard.

 

 

He looks over his shoulder and towards where way the voice came, replies: “Kuch nahi, I just couldn’t sleep and so thought to sit outside in the garden for a while. But you go back and sleep, I'll sit here for a few more moments before retiring to my room, don’t worry.” with a small smile but then realizing something which makes him frown lightly, “Also why you even up so late…?” asked getting bit concerned himself now.

 

 

The lady in her nightwear of white cotton-salwar, shakes her head and says: “You didn’t go to sleep; how can I sleep then…?” the obviousness clear as if he should have known it all along and then asked further, “And what are you doing here up alone…? Sab theek toh haina, beta…?” noticing the object in his hand and though she doesn’t make any comment but she is aware of his dwelling thoughts which in turn gets her worried.

 

 

He assured her, answering: “I'm fine Mumma, don't you worry unnecessarily now. I'll go inside and to bed in few minutes, now you go in and sleep.” smiling at her warmly, “Good night and love you, Mumma.” wishing her.

 

 

The elderly woman studied her son for a moment before saying: “Love you too Ammy and go to sleep, come on make it fast.” smiled sweetly.

 

 

He frowned cutely whined: “Mumma I'm not a kid!” pouting like a child

 

 

She replied in typical mother-tone: “Armaan, you are going to be kid to me forever and now move.” which only made him pout cutely harder while she continues to laugh at his antics, going back inside the house.

 

 

 

As soon as his mother was gone, Armaan turned around while lightly shaking his head in amusement with a smile on his face though soon the humour died realizing that he had the silver anklet which had his attention as another set of intense emotions washed over him. Caressing the anklet that he held in one hand and with other hand, picked up a small ornamented wooden box from the table beside the chair carefully. He whispered softly as if to remind himself: “They all have moved on without you, you are no place for me anywhere in their life and either do they have in my life now.”  caressing the anklet for one last time before unlocking the box then carefully kept it inside and closed along with all the memories, emotions within it. Shutting the wooden lid, he locks away the memories in the box along with the objects inside it and then firmly holding the wooden box in his hand, got up from his chair and went inside the huge mansion that is his home now.

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[NOTE: Hello lovelies, I know it has been awhile since I last updated but I'll be honest, real life gets busy and I don't get enough time to draft updates as I would like to. Hence slow updates but there is only so much  I can do... anyways we are not dwelling on that, today is my birthday and so I decided to surprise you guys with starting to repost this story, yayyy! I have been getting so many requests for this I can't tell you, so I decided to start reposting it again, here is the prologue and I'll post the first chapter before this day is over by European Standard Time (EST) , by the way. Working on GD next chapter and will start MTB soon, for now enjoy this and I'll be back soon with another update today sometime, till than take care.

With love,

Kavya

#PS: Happy woman's day ladies.]