Just a girl indulging in her fan fantasies.. If you suddenly see me constantly lurking in the unending threads of IPK fandom, it's my 'that time of the year' when I shamelessly ~toxic~ obsess over the show.
Indulging in mindless mediocre ffs in bw the stress of giving interviews. They got the craziest plot lines and grand canyons for plot holes lol. But surprisingly, most of them are well written and put together and good enough vocab. Jumping from this emotion to the next gracefully even though they would make no sense in the real world.
This is what Google Maatha claims the word 'fiction' means
something that is invented or untrue.
But if fiction is a mirror to our imagination, a tiny reflection of the world as we see it, holds half truths and hidden memories, if multiple others can relate to it and enjoy the ride, is it really THAT untrue?
Maybe for people who are good at living their lives not in their head lol.
Don't ask me which fic it is, My courage to admit hasn't evolved to that level yet.
It's my headcanon that Anjali/Khushi keep telling Arnav/Aarav
Not to talk to strangers on the road
Not to take any food items offered to them
Always carry pepperspray
Have and ID with home address on them all the time..
you know, just in case if there's any kidnapper lurking outside Shantivan's walls.
If you see this again, that would be me using it in a ff. You're free to do so too. Arnav bhoi being teased is sugar to my soul. Bye, gotta go wash my mouth with acid now that I've called him bhai the forbidden word.
I miss the crazy fun vms (video mixes) fans used to post to youtube. They were mad hilarious and creative. I just checked today and one of those channels is gone🥺. Now there are only a handful of them left. I wish I could watch some of them again.
I remember there was a "A-Z by Arnav Singh Raizada", "Dilli wali Girlfriend spoof" and just video edits of them being snappy at eachother.
I understand a lot of effort goes into these edits and I just wish more people could be able to appreciate them.
Maybe yt copyrights algo has removed those? Idk. But consider this post to be my way of saying thanks and kudos to all the creative bubbas out there❤️💃 you made me laugh and giggle to the point my mom considered therapy for me.
Wish you keep finding the same fun and passion in everything you do 💖
The offscreen interview videos are being removed too 😭 I'm not ready for all this
I was at the cinemas today and wondered, if.. just if, I could watch this
this
or this
on the big screen amid hootings/swoonings/heart attacks and dyings from the fans. Oh ohho, I would kill for an experience like that. Kill who, you ask? Shyam? Nah I liked him as a villian, Sheetal maybe. Add that whats-his-name arrogant, sexual harrasment lover big shot fashion guy from the Mrs. India track to the list.
A girl could dream.
Thanks @ipkkndlovescenes @phuljari for the gifs. God bless tumblr.
Maybe I'm late to join the bandwagon, but I just realised that this beautiful saree Anjali wears for Payash's Sangeet
And this one from Sarun's photoshoot for Star parivaar are one and the same!
I've always loooved this saree (I've known it only from where Sanaya wore it) and this made my day!
hehe y'all might know already but I'm just excited to share something I found by myself (all other tidbits I know are all from 10 years ago on India forums. Wish I was old enough to use it back then🥲)
And I'm totally going to get a similar saree for myself for no reason.
Did anyone else notice that each time the Raizadas/Guptas plan some party, the first thing (or all the time) they decide to plan on is what sweets they're going to serve.
Anniversary? Sweets.
Engagement? Sweets.
Shaadi? Sweets.
Breakfast? Swe-f*cking-eets. (Don't believe me? Watch the breakfast scene of S2 episode 22)
Like I get it the Guptas had a sweet shop, Nani loves Lucknowi mithaai, but heck I don't get why no others except Arnav have diabetes yet.
Also, don't you plan on serving your guests a full plate? Kabhi drinks ki baat karo... Or curries, or what kind of pulao, or sides or chutneys damn
Thank God Khushi chose the Purple Orchid for the first date. I'd lose my mind if they had a rabdi/rasgulla then too 😂
Khushi shrieked and dashed inside Anjali's room forgetting all formalities and filled with worry.
Arnav slowly pushed himself up with his face turned away. "Anjali ji, what's all this? What happened to you? All these bandages and.. and blood!?"
Anjali slowly registered her presence as she wiped her tears.
"And this hospital report? I knew this was an odd time to get a check-up! How did this happen to you?" Khushi demanded with a slight shiver and worry etched on her face.
"Woh.. nothing Khushi ji. Please don't worry. I just.. slipped and fell while helping with the mandap decoration.. woh kya hai, my… leg braces came undone.."
"You fell? And you have got all these serious injuries with a fall? Anjali ji, there's a lot of blood on your bandages, it can't be just a fall! Hey Devi Maiyya, look at your state! You were going to go to the temple, weren't you? I saw you leave with a thaali. Anjali ji… what…"
"Di's car got into an accident Khushi." said Arnav faintly finally turning his face towards her, looking somewhere at her feet.
"Car… acci..dent…?.."
Khushi's face slowly drained out of colour as she sank to her knees beside the bed. Flashes of a speeding car and blood, and a little girl sitting along the road by herself waiting for help to arrive in a dark deserted highway came to her mind.
She closed her eyes to shake the unwelcome thoughts off and held Anjali's hand.
"And.. and are you fine now..? Do you have any other injuries other than these? I assume you've been to the hospital already if you're getting your reports.. but do you feel okay? Should we go back and get you thoroughly checked? Anjali ji aap ghabraayiye mat.." her voice came out thickly and filled with all the ghabraahat she was denying Anjali of.
"Khushi." Arnav put a hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed trying to bring her back to her senses. He felt a pang in his chest as he wondered what locked away memories must have bubbled up to the surface of her mind.
"Khushi ji, hum ab bikul theek hain", assured Anjali drawing her other hand from her Chotte's shoulder to rest upon Khushi's trembling one.
"I can't lie, I was scared. Scared I would never get to see any of you again". Khushi whimpered in protest, her eyes now freely shedding tears.
"But I am here now Khushi ji. With all my family and family-to-be. In my house, safe and cared for. That's all that matters". Anjali said trying to sound strong for her precious Chotte and Khushi ji who currently looked like two wounded puppies.
"And thanks for this," she said taking the report from Khushi's hands. "I'll check it later. Aap yahan aayiye. Sit with me" patting the space beside her on the bed.
Khushi warily rose and sat beside her good friend and facing her Arnav ji. He looked miserable with messed up hair and puffed face, with red eyes; he looked like he thoroughly wept. Khushi's heart sank even lower. She wanted to comfort him. Hold him close to her and let no pain in the world touch him.
Anjali let herself smile against her tears, and with her hands one each cupping Arnav and Khushi's faces, started - "This is why I was so scared. There is so much in my life to lose. There is nothing more dear to me than these relationships. Not even myself, Chotte."
"Do you remember me telling you? Nothing stays forever. There is no guarantee to anyone's life. And that is why… if one has a moment worth sharing with their loved ones, they should. Khushi ji, no word unsaid, no feeling shared, no truth hidden and left to fester lets one sleep a peaceful night's sleep. No matter how silly it might sound in the present."
"Life is too precious to let slip from your hands. And the colours you want to paint it with are of completely your choice." She ended with a kiss of blessing on their foreheads and hugged their red faces closer.
"Don't think about anything a lot. Just listen to your hearts always." She pulled out of the hug and wiping their tears said - "Acha, I have a brother to marry off. I'll start getting ready. You two run along, someone might need help downstairs. I'll join you as soon as I can." Arnav smiled at his sister and stood up along with Khushi to head outside.
What was that bhashan about? Arnav's stomach filled with warmth as he remembered his Di had never failed to read him like an open book.
Khushi fiddled with her dupatta as the frown of worry left her forehead to be replaced by a frown of pakdi-gayi-chori. What does Anjali ji think of her?
Khushi ji, no word unsaid, no feeling not shared, no truth hidden and left to fester lets one sleep a peaceful night's sleep.
Does she mean to imply she knows about… would she have kissed her affectionately if she knew? The thought of Anjali's trust over her broken scared Khushi. Or maybe she means to hint at...
Was Khushi that easy to read? She glanced uncertainly at Arnav as they walked alongside each other through the corridor to find him already looking at her.
In an instance, he held her hand and walked to his room quickly before HP/JP/OP could interrupt his plans.
Is a beautiful song describing the yearnings and comfort of love. All songs in the film touch your heart's strings but this one has a sweet melancholy to it. The awareness the two lovers have of the helpless state they are in despite the knowledge of their deeper connection unsettles me.
And since IPK has ruined every other love story for me, I always have Arshi in front of my eyes as I listen to each heart-breaking line of the songs. I mean, look at these lines :
Is the love just dreams?
Am I unending journey? Is it not enough?
Is the time a question?
Enough... my heart melts and getting dissolved to come near you
Funfact: I wonder if Arshi would have been in a very similar situation as the leads of this film if Arnav let his past hurt more than his heart yearned for Khushi on their wedding day/came back to painfully suggest they don't proceed with their relationship since he can't separate his past and present with her in his life.
Nonetheless, all songs perfectly capture their spark and this one in general is a 💎 so I did what I generally do and wrote Telugu(my mother tongue) lyrics to Thaabangale with Arshi in mind. They kinda match the movie and Arshi both. Do listen to the original if you haven't and let me know of your thoughts 💭😊
Thaabangale - (Teluguvised 😂)
Her:
తాపనికే రూపం తనై
తలచే, పిలిచే.. ఎదురుగా నిలిచే
ఊరించేనే, లాలించేనే
మరునిమిషము ఇది తగదంటూ విడిచే X2
నేరం, ఎవరిదెవరిదో అంటూ..
గాలించెనే, వేధించెనే
వైరం తనది తనతోనే అంటూ
విధే ఇలా విషయం తెలిపే || తాపనికే ||
Him :
నా మనసుకు చెలి నీ..
తలపే తపస్సైందా?
నీ పేరిక నాకు
ఆలపనే ఐందా?
Her :
ప్రేమంటే నదురు, బెదురా?
స్నేహం ఇదంటే జంకు, భయమా?
ఒకమారు విను ప్రియ సఖుడా,
లేత మనసును మరి మరి
విరచుటయే తగునా? || తాపనికే ||
Translation
Her:
Thaapanike rupam thanai
(He is desire personified)
Thalache, piliche, yedhuruga niliche
(He thought of me, called my name, stood infront of me)
Oorinchene laalinchene
(tempted me and comforted me)
Marunimishamu idi tagadhantu vidiche
(and left me the next minute saying this isn't to be)
Neram yevaridhevaridho antu
(Who has committed this crime?)
Gaalinchene, vedhinchene
(He has searched for them, hurt me in the process)
Vairam thanadhi thanathone antu
("He is his own enemy")
Vidhe ila vishayam telipe
(said fate)
Him:
Naa manasuke cheli nee
Thalapu thapassainda?
(Has the thought of you dear, become my penance?)
Nee perika naaku
Aalapane ainda?
(Has your very name become a devotional to me?)
Her:
Premante Naduru Bedura?
(Do you shy away from love?)
Sneham idante Janku, Bhayama?
(Do you fear affection?)
Okamaaru vinu priya sakhuda
(Listen here dear lover)
Letha manasunu Mari mari
Virachutaye thaguna?
(Is it fair to break a tender heart again and again?)
Arnav blinked as he turned the device in his palm around.
"This could be a fake. It could never work" - he tried staying back in the denial zone for the 101st time.
But curiosity is an interesting thing. It made Arnav Singh Raizada make non-sensical decisions before - which by luck always ended up with pleasant consequences. Before clarity could rule his mind again, he quickly entered the date of that cold evening in 2011; and pressed the button.
His skin tingled all over and his mind swam for a second and more before he could feel the hard ground beneath his feet again.
Too bright. He squinted as he tried to adjust his sight to the surroundings while trying to figure out where he stood.
There were... diyas on the ground. Placed in groups of 3, 2 - and a few sad single ones in a handful of clean circles. He smiled as he reminisced; holding her hand, leading her carefully out of each of these circles.
He was in one of the few sitting areas in Shantivan. Thankfully as he remembered, the party had happened in the main hall of the mansion and no one was here to see him materialize out of thin air. He can't exactly be passed off to be the past Arnav considering he has let his beard grow out a bit and was still in his work clothes from this morning. Not party-ready.
He jogged quickly to the French windows of a dark corner of the room to see what had been going on in the party. As he expected (and hoped) many of the guests were around ASR and the much talked about Ms. Kashyap to congratulate them on their just-announced engagement. His stomach gave a twitch at the sight of a beaming Lavanya. He mumbled a quiet "sorry" to her and rushed off to find his Jalebi Rani.
He stopped dead at the end of the terrace staircase as "she" appeared in front of him. All the judgment and anger that was boiling inside him for his past self vanished as he made room in himself to admire the beauty wearing that red saree. The golden border draped around her looked like a bow on top of the gift wrap that she is in right now. Just for his eyes.
She was sobbing quietly making her chin quiver. Her thin figure trembled as she held on tightly to the chair she was sitting on… where he must have given her payal back just moments ago. He scanned around to make sure there were none around to spy on the would-be-private moment and in quick strides reached the French windows of his bedroom and closed them shut before drawing the privacy screens. This wasn't the public pool by the hall side, but it wasn't the guests he was barring themselves from. It was from himself that he needed space. He must be looking for her to spew some residual hatred towards.
Khushi quickly stood up confused as Arnav ji was checking the surroundings.
"Aap…" she trailed as she tried to understand what was going on. It's him. But it can't be. He was just wearing a different formal shirt with his sleeves down and buttoned up. When did he change? When did he grow a beard?
"Arnav ji?" she asked all the questions she had no words for. He was in front of her in 2 strides.
"So beautiful" he murmured as he flitted his eyes across her face.
"Ji?"
She was a little scared now. Who is this very familiar stranger?
"Khushi, maine abhi jo bhi bakwas bola hoga" - "It is that. Bakwas"
He observed her thickly glossed lip for the millionth time. Was he here for her? What could he say to her now that would erase the hurt from her face.. and her heart? No, he was here for himself. Even after all these years, he was here to cater to his wounded memory. To pretend to ease her pain so he could think back to the day without regrets. Because he can't risk changing his past in fear of it affecting his precious present.
He took a deep breath placing his device tightly clutched in his palm into his pocket and continued.
"I don't know how to explain this to you to make it make sense, Khushi", he started with a subconscious finger on her arm slowly climbing up. "I am Arnav. And I am yours."
"The guy standing in the hall right now is an idiot. Ek dum gadha hai. I must have really hurt you, hadn't I?"
If she was confused before, she didn't know what she was feeling now.
"I'm not going to marry Lavanya. I'm not in love with her. And you.."
His palm reached her shoulder and held her firmly.
"You are not to say yes to marrying Shyam"
"Because I love you."
Khushi furrowed her brows as her body froze and her mind refused to work.
"Because you are mine." He placed his other palm behind her neck and tilted her face upward.
"Dekhiye, aap.."
"Your love,
your attention,
your concern
and devotion,
are mine."
"Your presence, your kindness, your laughter - your Khushi - is mine."
He freed her shoulder and caressed her cheek with a thumb.
"Your thoughts, your desires, your days and nights are to be mine."
Her heart sped up uncontrollably. She was sure now she had gone mad. And hallucinating like she often does to cope.
"Your beauty, your coyness, your nakhre and your gussa, are all mine, Khushi Kumari Gupta. Heck your name would be mine once you would be Mrs. Raizada"
Tears flowed freely on her cheeks as she quietly indulged herself for once in her impossible imagination.
"I want my life to be with you Khushi. I have for a long time. Just that, the idiot downstairs doesn't know that there's no going back from this. There's no falling out of love with you Khushi. That would be denying myself of breathing."
He was shocked to find words coming so easily to him. Probably because of the number of times he had played this exact scenario in his head wondering what would he have changed about it. And the advantage of knowing both the past and the present, not caring to worry about consequences in a reality that is going to not exist in the next few minutes fuelled his next words.
"Did you put more gloss today or were you munching on jalebis on your way here?", he asked finally coming to mudde-ki-baat, tightening his grip on her neck.
His other hand swept her fringe away as he breathed out - "let's find out, shall we?"
She half-sobbed, half-gasped as his lips pressed onto hers firmly. He pecked once before leaning back to say, "Don't think, honey. Iss party se, yahan ki logon se, duniya se mujhe koi matlab nahi. Sirf tumse hai. Tumhari har baat se. Think of just me, darling."
He went in for a good long kiss this time. His beard scratched her chin. He could taste pineapple on her.
Curiosity is an interesting thing and Arnav Singh Raizada never denied himself of indulging in it.
He bit her lower lip gently and sucked on it when she parted for air.
His hand on her neck travelled down with familiarity and grabbed her by her waist, gathering her limp body closer. He kept sucking and nibbling alternatively as he lead her to walk back till they hit the wall.
He deepened the kiss and sucked more till she held his collar with her both hands and whimpered a faint complaint into his mouth.
He slowed down and tried to tongue her swollen lips as his hands went to her waist. He traced his favorite curve, tried to grab onto a love handle (oh, she didn't have them yet), and pinched her waist.
"Arnav ji!", she squealed bringing him to his senses. He should not forget that this is not his wife. Not yet.
"Khushi," he breathed against her mouth. Her eyes were still closed but she trembled with awareness.
"I am yours, Khushi."
"My heart,
my peace,
my pride,
my walls -
are yours to trample over."
"My joy, my care, my future, my dreams are yours."
"My family, my space, my hurt, my zidd are yours to share with."
A tear of submission ran from his eyelid.
"My life, my hopes, my promises and all possibilities are with you Khushi. Just you."
He grabbed her again and gave another scorching kiss, taking everything from her and giving all of him. He swiped his tongue against hers before slowing down to give her room to breathe (and cope).
He unglued his body from hers, not very eager to overwhelm her with his arousal. He gave a few pecks as he rubbed her arms to comfort her.
He peppered her face with light kisses while she took deep breaths to calm herself, not daring to open her eyes.
He kissed her eyelids before giving her final tight kisses on her cheeks with a smack.
He leaned back and observed her face as she slowly opened her eyes looking everywhere but his face.
He tidied up her hair and saree with gentle hands and a final - "Beautiful."
She looked at him at this and lifted a hand to touch his face as he moved back.
"I have to go now. But remember, stop stepping back, and start stepping alongside me. And… please forgive me. Main iss duniya ke liye badtameez hun. Tumhare liye nahin."
"And… jaane se pehle, reapply your gloss" he added with a wink.
He stepped out of her sight setting the device so that she forgets all that happened now as she stepped out of the area and pressed the button to go back home.
As his head swam, he wondered if he should continue from where he left with his wife back home.
Curiosity is an interesting thing, and Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada is waiting to indulge him in it back in their room.
Moral of the story: No amount of kissing is too much when it comes to Arshi.
This one felt more scandalous while writing it than it turned out to be lol
I'm at the diwali track rn in my rewatch.. I just want to hold and shake buaji so bad lol. She represents innumerable Indian elders who turn a blind eye to the actual situation going on and do/say stuff to get what THEY want.
Shashi wasn't chintit reg. his daughter's weddings since he walked into Laxmi Nagar, even if he found a good match, he was broke to make the weddings happen. It was the family's finances he was worried about. Him lacking the health and strength to head the family was his primary concern. And he was proud Khushi stood up for them in a time of need.
And he continuosly shot down his Jiji's attempt to shove Shyam down the family's throats. He said Khushi wasn't old enough, Payal would get married first, Shyam's affection could be fake. He got really upset when the ladies went ahead and got the Kundalis matched without his knowledge.
But what did Buaji conclude from the "Shya.. Shyaa" from her bedridden brother? Not that he might be trying to thank Shyam for "saving" his life. Or that he want him to help with speaking to the hospital staff. Or that he wanted a Sharbat. Nope. She concluded her brother would go against all he said the past few days and green lit the match.
Okay the scorpion-smoocher planted in their minds that the wedding was what Shashi was hinting at. But none of the others were jumping at that prospect right now.
I'm not even mad at her when she brought up Khushi's adoption. She grew close her bhateeji very recently and she doesn't think like Shashi, Garima(yes Garima) and Payal who do not see Khushi as anything but family. She asks Khushi to repay for the good deed her brother had done.. and I just see a (wannabe) good sister(since people get married to please their parents 😒)
Let me take a step back or else I'll sound like a woman hater. You see, Madhumati has a strong personality and she must have lost her husband (and the chance at having kids and a family of her own) at a very young age. She liked Khushi and saw herself in the young girl. And protecting her from the world seemed only possible by marrying her off to a very available and local guy.
But one could say the same for Garima too. She has seen worse actually. She had fallen in love with a guy, possibly in a very similar way how Shyam had weasled into Khushi's life. Got cheated on. Possibly had no support from her parents. Lost her Jiji and Jijaji. Had to marry an older guy to get a roof over her head with a daughter and had Khushi to take responsibility of. She could have pushed Khushi to her perceived safety net of a marriage. But she didn't.
Conclusion : Buaji has control issues and she wanted to have a say in some significant decision so one day she could be like, see that perfect couple together? I hitched them up. And I grudgingly love this flaw and the fact that her character development is not a steady climb up just like Arnav's.
"You have grown up so much. Whatever will I do without you in this place after today?"
"Nothing. You would do nothing without me", said Khushi sensing incoming waterworks.
"Jiji, I stay barely half an hour away from Shantivan. And Holi is just a handful of days away. Even after that we'll visit each other at least once a week. Kya pata without me you might burn this place down" she finished fake-haughtily.
Payal chuckled wiping a tear.
"Once a week hi kyun? That won't be enough. I'd want to check on others in the family too. Just in case they get dabao-fied under your tyranny."
"Sundays for Nani-ji, Mondays - Anjali-ji, Tuesdays and Wednesdays for Mama-ji and Mami-ji. Thursdays for Nanheji and Fridays for poor Jijaji."
"And whom did you mark Saturdays for? Laxmi-ji?" asked Payal, now laughing.
"Woh toh I've saved for Laad-Governor, woh kya hain, it's the weekend and he won't be busy preparing for Mondays like he does on Sundays - and I can make him sit and watch Salman Khan ji's movies with me." her hands busy with her lehenga again and eyes glittering with dreams of Dum Aloo and the Dabaang series with her Darling Singh Raizada.
"Huh?"
"huh?"
"Haan.. movies with Arnavji, Satsang with Mamiji, disco with Hari Prakash ji. All very realistic possibilities. He-he" she tried saving the situation.
"Jiji, bahut baatein karti ho. Tumhe aaj shaadi karni hain ki nahin?" throwing the lehenga and jewelry onto the bed, she scrambled to reach for the door.
"I'll go check on Amma & Buaji, they must have gotten ready by now. They might need an extra hand with setting down the madap ka samaan" and off she ran leaving Payal with a curious expression on her face.
Now that her Arnavji was back on her mind, she allowed herself a shy smile. She had grown used to her dhak-dhak in the past few days. It actually feels weirdly lonely without it paired with the 'acidity'. The bindi he used earlier to do his bidding sat warmly between her brows. It was the same one she put on this morning but with his little gesture, it felt.. she felt - very different. She touched it and thought back to the way he made his intention very clear. Are they the same pair they were a few weeks ago?
Yet he seemed weirdly angry when he thought he would never get to see her face again. Was it her fault he mistook that she got into an accident? He shook her and shook her more that evening, snapping at her when she started to go with Nanheji again. Fumed as he drove the car ~slowly~ to bring her back. Yelled at her when she cut her arm with the bangles of the wrong size. Did not hesitate to give his input on which saree she should select for herself this morning.
Laad Governer kahin ke. Khushi rolled her eyes fondly.
"Na hi hum aapse baat karna chahte, aur na hi aapki shakal dekhna chahte"
But she made a fool of herself flitting around Shantivan, kicking herself for asking Devi Maiyya to take him away from her sight. She couldn't sit peacefully by her Jiji, got a hasty mehendi design to get it over with so she could step away from all prying eyes and ring his phone incessantly. She had asked Anjali ji once, Nani-ji next if he was back yet. 3 hours? She had counted all 10,800 seconds. She played a dangerous gamble holding the phone close while apologizing profusely for wishing she could never see him again. He looked delicious though, waving the voicemail right in her face. A proud smirk on his lips appeared as he noticed his 'A' on her palm and her brains were F-R-I-E-D. Maybe sometimes for this very purpose, she secretly liked it when he caught her being an idiot.
Lost in her thoughts her feet carried her up the stairs of this now very familiar house which almost felt like her own.
"Khushi ji!" called OP after her. He ran up to the study where she was standing with an envelope in his hand.
"Are you going up Khushi ji? Can you please give this to Anjali Didi? I have to check on the drinks and snacks being served to the guests"
Khushi smiled and took the envelope from his hand that had some diagnostic lab name written on it. OP vanished through the side hallway into the kitchen thanking the nice girl in his head.
Khushi reached the first floor landing with eyes still out for her Arnavji. Should she go to his room? Was he in there? What excuse could she make up to see his face?
The door to Anjali ji's room was open to the far right end and she willed herself into that direction instead. Her dear friend who is almost like a sister was beside herself with joy the past few days, arranging everything to her brand of perfection. Khushi closed a fist and knocked on the door when she reached there before she putting a tentative foot inside.
"Anjali ji.." Khushi peeked into the room to make sure the dung beetle Shyam wasn't there. Instead, she saw the man from her thoughts with his head on his Di's lap, and she…
"Khushi, do you think it is wise, what we are doing?" asked Payal, drawing her little sister's hand away from the ornate deep blue lehenga he was unfolding.
"What? Your Shaadi? If this is not wise enough, what else would you like to do? Ohho, Jiji! I never knew you were interested in live-in!" The aforementioned little sister widened her eyes while fighting a smile.
Payal smacked Khushi's head with her free hand.
"Nahi!" -
"Going ahead I would never hide anything from you Payal-ji. However big it is."
Akash is definitely the better of both of them. He is sincere and it shows in each promise he makes to her. Doesn't he deserve the same loyalty?
But what good would that do? On the day of the havan before their engagement, he walked into the house bearing the news of his marriage to Anjali-ji. Brought out thunders from Buaji. Disbelief and devastation in her Amma. Seems like both her daughters had bad luck with walking up to the wedding altar. Her Babuji surprisingly was strong considering the whole wedding was his plan. He huffed and looked away, but didn't shed a tear when he heard all that. What else could a paralyzed man do anyway.
Everything Shyam-ji had claimed sounded almost.. true. It was Buaji who hounded him and Khushi to be wedded. He didn't have enough time to process the situation when they got hastily engaged by the bedside of their very sick Babuji. He was an outsider in the haughty Raizada clan. He just wanted apnapan. He finally got enough courage to reveal the truth this day, heaven forbid he didn't, he couldn't go against his principles even if he was in a loveless marriage.
But Payal also noticed how he spoke about Khushi to their elders. Egging them on to hitch them up together. How he never involved any of his family from Lucknow even after the engagement. Who carries their Kundali in their work suitcase anyway? He could have denied the wedding firmly right from the start. Buaji could force Khushi citing her adoption, but she couldn't make Shyam-ji do anything he didn't want to do, could she?
Anyway, it's not as if Akash nor any other member of the family would believe an iota of whatever she would tell them against their beloved Damaad-ji.
Why is this so complicated? If only she could love Akash freely, not burdened by the truth she's holding from him.
Khushi is technically her little sister. But she has seen more of the world than herself. Stood up for the family in need of a head. Has been cheated on. Takes up the challenges life throws at her with a smile and a quick prayer to her Devi Maiyya.
She's always been there for her chutki and supported her through numerous "disasters" that keep following Khushi Kumari Gupta wherever she goes. But today strangely she is the one feeling exposed to vultures in Shaantivan. Her sister has no business hanging about in this place come tomorrow and she can't think of a way to keep her support system to herself for the rest of her life.
Nightmares of her soon-to-be MIL keep her up at night anyway but it is Shyam who worries her truly. She couldn't pin upon anything unseemly in his behaviour since he left Laxmi Nagar, but who was she kidding? He seemed harmless while he was living with them too, at least till the truth came out. And had she not sensed his veiled threat? (Bhale hi her Amma and Buaji saw that as no more than an unwelcome consequence). Of Payal's marriage prospect crumbling if the Raizada's knew.
God knows what he would do or make her do by dangling the truth over her head. He's not truly in love with this family, is he? It's she who would suffer. Something had to be done here.
"Khushi, woh hum soch rahe the ki.."
"Yeh woh kuch nahi." Khushi came and sat by her sister who was lost in her train of thought.
"I know what's going on in your head. Waise if I say something it would be chhoti muh badi baat, but I will say it anyway. One thing I've understood by hanging around Arnav Singh Raizada is this. Be selfish in the matters of your family. And Akash Jiju is going to be your family in a few hours. Your relationship with him should matter the most. What good would it do if this wedding stopped now? Let him become your Pati and tell him whatever you want then. He is a good man. And smart. He would see the truth. And I have given my Maiyya murti to you. She would be with you always."
"Shyam-ji wouldn't dare put a toe out of the line under this roof with Arnav-ji and Jijaji around. But don't wait around until he does something irreversible. Hell, even if he doesn't, you should speak to Jijaji about this. If your husband can't understand and trust you, who would? If he can't share your pain and burden, who else would, Jiji?"
"He adores his Di. He has to know if you have something to share about her. But all in good time. Whenever you are ready."
Payal blinked and stared at her sister. Relief and resolve spread through her chest as she thought about what to do. Gently she cupped Khushi's face and kissed her forehead.
P.S. I know OG Khushi loves being in denial and would like to close her eyes and pretend there's no problem.. or justify being quiet by telling herself she should give Shyam a second chance for the sake of Anjali's marriage.. but here I just wanted to explore a little of what happens if these characters were just a bit more.. vocal. Thanks for reading!
P.S. P.S. This is my first attempt at posting something I wrote please be kind 🥹
theartofmadeline
origamiaround
jacobvanloon
areudirty
vaporwave
izzy806