Dark Night Dawning Epilogue

The door bell at Shantivan chimed and Anjali rushed toward the door exclaiming, ‘It must be them!’ She opened the door to welcome the two people she owed a lot to ----her dearest brother and her sister-in-law Khushi. She hugged them both joyfully.

Khushi touched Naniji’s feet and hugged Mamiji and Payal. She enquired about her little niece who Anjali told her was sleeping.

Suddenly,Naniji, Mamiji, Payal and Anjali burst into giggles as  Akashtried very hard to keep a straight face.

‘What’s so funny?’ asked Arnav even as Khushi looked at them curiously.

‘We didn’t know that you still remembered your lines from the Heer-Ranjha act, Arnav bitwa!’ blurted out Mamiji before anyone could stop her.

‘What the _____? how did you know?’ he asked them stunned.

‘Umm….bhai…looks like there were some news reporters at the wedding at Sheesh Mahal,’ explained Akash, ‘we saw everything you said on the stage just now on TV. It has become sensational news…’

F@#$! He swore under his breath, as he looked at Khushi’swho had visibly paled. He walked furiously toward the stairs flipping open his phone, to call the news channel. There would be hell to pay before he was done with them!

‘Chotte…. what about dinner?’ Anjali asked him tongue in cheek.

‘I will be back in 10 minutes Di!’ he snapped out as he walked up the stairs.

Khushi joined Payal in the kitchen to help her set up the table for dinner. She had refused when Payal told her to go up to the room to rest. She wasn’t sure how she was going to handle being alone with him all of a sudden. She wanted to delay it as much as possible.

Anjali was impressed at the ease with which Arnav and Khushi dealt with each other. She realized that staying together in Lucknow had worked wonders for their relationship. They seemed so attuned to each other. Her brother had not looked like this in a long long time. Her papadkatukda was ukhda no more…….

‘Di, have you named your daughter yet?’ asked Khushi curiously, ‘When you came to Lucknow, you said you needed a little more time.’

‘Yes Khushi,’ said Anjali beaming, ‘in the honour of her uncle and aunt I would like to name her Arushi…..’

‘That’s a beautiful name Anjali bitiya!’ said Mamiji emphatically as other members of the family began congratulating her.

Arnav and Khushi looked at Anjali, their eyes reflecting the deep emotion they were feeling at this moment. Anjali smiled at them as if to say that’s the least I could do.

After dinner, Arnav and Khushi went up to  Anjali’s room to see their little niece Arushi.As Arnav sat talking to his sister, Khushi stepped into the pool area carrying her little niece in her arms, talking to her about stars, singing to her.Khushi felt a pang of regret for the little girl who would have to grow up without her father. As the baby slept peacefully in her arms Khushi brought her in.As she was about to hand over the bay to Arnav, he jumped up refused. He felt she was too fragile for him to hold. Khushi looked at him weirdly, as Anjali shook her head in resignation.The Laad Governor was afraid to hold a small baby?

After stepping out of Anjali’s room, they proceeded toward their bedroom. ‘I told jiji I would come and meet her after dinner,’ blurted out Khushi halting abruptly.

‘Sure …..go ahead….I have some work I need to look into anyway,’ he told her a little awkwardly raking his hand into his hair.

Khushi and Payal sat in the living room, reminiscing about how they chatted like this during their growing up years ---- until they got married. After that a weird awkwardness had developed between them because of all the misunderstanding. Soon Khushi realized that Payal was eager to join her husband as it was getting late. They hugged each other and bade each other good night.

She had one last stop before she went up. She went up to the mandir to talk to her friend, philosopher and guide with whom she had a painful conversation 7 months ago at this very spot.

‘Thank you for being with me through all my trials and tribulations Devi Maiyaa……I couldn’t have done this without you,’ said Khushi as she payed her salutations.

When Khushi entered the bedroom, she saw Arnav sitting on his side of the bed, leaning against the headboard, working on his lap top. His hair was damp from the shower. She realized that she would have to shower as well. They had driven all the way from Lucknow and she felt her clothes sticking to her.

Khushi came out of the bathroom after her shower, in her night suit. God! She looked sexy as hell with that wet hair!His eyes moved to her swan like neck, the delicate rounded shoulders, her slim hands, and the lovely curve of her waist that he could span with both his hands, flaring into rounded hips and bottom. She was beautiful!

As she stood in front of the mirror, towelling her hair dry she found herself staring at the Salman Khan poster on the wall. She turned around to find her stars hanging from her side of the bed and heard the sound of chimes. He had put back all her things! Her heart began to beat really fast. She went up to the Salman Khan poster and began to take it down.

‘What are you doing that for, Khushi?’ snapped Arnav looking at her from his position on the bed, ‘I don’t like it when you keep changing the décor of this room.’

‘I don’t need these things anymore,’ she declared as she put away the poster. She moved to the stars. She held one in her hand, and was about tug at it when she felt her hair being moved to one side and Arnav’s lips on her neck. She jumped as she let go of the star.

‘Leave them alone Khushi,’ he muttered as he began to nibble on her neck contentedly, burying his face in her hair and inhaling deeply. ‘You smell delicious. Do you have any idea how sexy you look when you come out of the shower with your hair wet like this?’

His arms came around Khushi, his hand capturing hers, playing idly with her fingers, his touch setting her skin tingling. His mouth was against her hair, his warm breath stirring it softly as he brought her flush against him.

She turned around and snaked her arms around his neck slamming her body hard against him ‘You look sexy too…..when you come out of the shower, without your shirt on,’ she mumbled into his neck.

‘Your wish is my command, my dearest wife,’ he rasped against her neck and her heart soared as his arms tightened around her.

Arnav took a few steps back and took off his t-shirt, leaving him in just his track pants, riding low on his hips revealing a tiny bit of his underwear. God! She could never get over how magnificent he looked! Arnav with the glow of the warm light painting his bold features, looked beautiful and strong and utterly masculine.Her heart began to beat very fast as she took in his lean and hard build, the play of muscles on his shoulders, biceps and chest. But what stirred her most was the sprinkling of dark hair on his chest. She wanted to go up to him and move her hands all over him. But as Arnav began to take a step toward her, a sudden bout of shyness assailed her. Khushi began to move back and ran into the pool area.

As she stood looking at the stars, Arnav came up behind her and gathered her in his arms and held her silently. This room held a lot of bad memories for them since the time they were married. This room----- which had been a silent witness to the hatred -----

 ‘Khushi, I don’t know if I will ever be able to make it up to the things I did to you, the things I said, I ____’ his voice caught as he remembered.

Is kamrekebaahar hum happily married couple ki acting karenge….per is kamrekeandar tum mere liyekuchnahiho……you mean nothing to me!

Jaannachahatihokyon main tumhe suffer kartedekhnachahatahoon….Kyonki Main tumsenafratkartahoon…..because I hate you! ……..

‘I was lying Khushi….. I tried so much to hate you …..but I couldn’t!’

‘I was lying too …… I tried not to love you either…..’ she said sadly remembering how she had retaliated in anger.

Hum bhiaapsenafratkartehain…jitniaapkartehainussekahinjyada… kyonkiaapse koi pyaarkare……uskeaaplaayak hi nahihain Mr Raizaada!Aapsirfnafratkelaayakhain…….

Arnav turned her around to face him and looking into her eye he said, ‘I love you, Khushi!’

‘I love you too…..’ she breathed, ‘much muchmore than you!’ she added impishly.

‘Really, we will have to see about that won’t we?’ he said huskily and tangled his hands in her hair, drawing her closer…..closer still, until her breasts were pulled tight against his bare chest. He slid one hand behind her head, as if to hold her steady while his mouth plundered hers.

She touched his shoulder first, running her hands across taut muscles, then wrapped her arms around him, giving her hands free rein to play across his broad back.

A moan released itself from her as his lips left hers and instead blazed a trail of fire down her jawline and into the hollow of her throat.

‘Khushi…..,’ he murmured, his breath hot against her neck.

‘Arnav…..’ she sighed, loving the sound, the feel of his name on her lips.

His hands left her hair and instead caressed down her back, unzipping her kameez and she arched like a cat beneath his stroking hand.

He kissed her shoulders, the pushed the sleeve of her kameez and bra off her shoulders in an effort to be rid of them.He reached down and grabbed the bottom of the kameez and pulled it off over her head. Then he reached behind her for the clasp of her bra and undid it with just one flick.

‘Arnavji!’ she exclaimed holding her hands in front of her, horrified, ‘we are at the pool side!’

‘So?’ he asked her raising one eyebrow arrogantly, ‘I am at my house, my pool side making love to my wife!’

Khushi realized that there was one side of him that was never going to change – the Laad               Governor side! And she didn’t want it to change, did she?

He quickly undid the ties to her salwar bottom and as it fell down in a heap he swept to her in his arms and laid her on the pool chair.

She was ready when his lips claimed hers, possessively thrusting his tongue inside as if to prove his dominance. Her hands moved all over the muscles of his back with the same possessiveness, her fingernails digging into the hard planes. He moved so he was half over the top of her, his mouth once again tasting the skin of her neck, nipping lightly over her collarbones.

When his mouth found the peak of one breast, Khushi arched with pleasure. His tongue played across her nipple and shuddering sensations of response soared through her.

She twisted her hands in his hair, loving the texture of the silken strands around her fingers. Her breath caught in her throat as his mouth left her breasts and he licked lightly down the flat of her stomach and thrust into her navel.

He paused at the lacy edge of her panties and Khushi tugged at his hair expecting him to trace his path back to her lips.

He raised his head and looked at her, his eyes filled with a need that reverberated inside Khushi. ‘Not yet.’ His voice was soft promise of pleasure to come and Khushi shivered with the heat of that promise.

He held her gaze as his hand lazily traced the waistband of her panties, dipping his fingers inside to slowly peel them down her hips, his fingers caressing her inner thighs as he slid the silk off her legs and threw them aside. Though this touch was not new to her, the look in his eyes made her shiver and she moved her hands to clutch at the handles of the chair.

Slowly he began to slide his palm up the contour of her leg caressing the back of her knee, stroking her thighs. His urged her legs apart exposing her fully to him as his fingers found her molten center.

‘Did I tell you that you’re beautiful,’ he asked, his breath a whisper against her thighs as his fingers began to stroke her.

‘Hmmm….’ she moaned breathlessly.

‘You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known,’ he said as his tongue replaced his fingers, caressing her lightly, just a taste.

‘Ar….navv!’ her body clenched, jumped.  She tried to close her legs, pushing at his shoulders as she protested, ‘stop…..don’t……!’

‘Shut up Khushi!’ he rasped huskily as he held her thighs down firmly and continued his ministrations. Khushi felt like she was spiralling down a dark tunnel uncontrollably as pressure built and built until she cried out clutching his shoulders digging her finger nails into the hard muscles. Then she found herself floating in oblivion, her entire body suffused in bewildering sensations, from her head to her toe. She held out her armsand Arnav immediately obliged as she gathered him to her. She clung to him so tightly, almost smothering him. Finally, her tremors subsided and she loosened her grip on him. But she still couldn’t get herself to look into his eyes.

‘So, my dearest wife……who loves who more now?’ he teased her.

‘If this is going to be the measure of one’s love then……’ said Khushi suddenly opening her eyes to look into his chocolate brown ones intensely,  her hands moving down in lightning speed to slip into his trousers to close over his arousal.

‘What the f@#$!’ Arnav swore, as he felt an explosion in his gut. The excitement, the sheer pleasure washed over him in such intense waves that he pulled her hand out as he stood up and quickly disposed of with his pants and underwear. He eased himself between her legs and deep within her.

For a moment neither of them moved. It was as if not only their bodies were intimately entwined, but also their hearts, their souls, leaving nothing left to do but exist in the moment, and in each other.

It was he who moved first…. A slight shifting of his hips that created hot pleasure to sear through her. As he moved again, Khushi closed her eyes and gave herself to the sheer pleasure.

Arnav wanted to go slow to make each and every exquisite sensation last endless minutes…hours. But his eager body refused to listen to his heart’s desire, wanting ….. needing to move with a frantic pace all its own.

Slow. Slow. Arnav told himself as they moved together, like one entity. But when she pushed her hips up higher, he felt himself swept in vortex of sensation and he began to move faster and faster with her…in her…. sending them both higher and higher. Her fingers gripped his shoulders nails digging into his skin. She whispered his name over and over again.

And he knew when she reached her peak, felt her body tense, then shudder and at the same time, he went over the edge, crying out her name.

Moments later, they lay in each other’s arms. Their breathing had returned to normal, their bodies had cooled, but there was fragile peace between them that had formed an intimate connection that had nothing to do with their love making.

Arnav swept her up in his arms and took her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed gently. When she made a move to scurry away, he pulled her to him and they snuggled together in the centre of the bed.

‘Khushi, what was all that earlier?’ he asked her about theemphatic expertize she had displayed earlier.

Oh God! Did he think she was too wanton?‘Uh…. The night before Palak’s wedding……she and her married friends came to the house,’ she said making small circles on his chest nervously, ‘they wanted to throw a bridal shower for her. You were the one who declared you make me feel out of his world…..Palak wanted to know how.’

‘So did you tell them?’ he asked her unable to believe what he was hearing. When did Lucknowi women get this forward?

‘Well I had to….’ Khushi blushed a deep red hiding her face in his neck, ‘then some of them explained how they do the same…..I …..I am sorry if you didn’t like it.’

Didn’t like it?……was she kidding?‘You know what Khushi?’ he told her seriously, ‘such knowledge should not be allowed to go waste……How about we put everything you learnt to practice right now?’ asked her husband giving her his famous lopsided smile ---– a smile for which this wife would agree to practicallyanything!

As the stars shone brightly in the sky, there was no bitter past between them, only this blissful present with the hope for a wonderful future.

**

The next morning, Khushi was busy in the kitchen helping with the breakfast,when she heard the doorbell. As she heard her Buaji’s voice in the hall, she rushed out to meet them. She was dumbstruck at the sight that greeted her. Her dad was walking in to the living room, slowly but surely using a walking stick for support.

‘Bitiya!he exclaimed with affection. ‘Babuji!’ Khushi ran into his arms as tears of joy flowed down her cheeks.

‘Careful ……you silly girl!’ shouted her Buaji worried that Khushi might send her brother crashing to the floor in her excitement. Payal, Akash and the rest of the family members had joined them after hearing the commotion.

As everyone settled in the living room, Buaji explained that there was tremendous improvement in her brother’s condition due to the ayurvedic treatment he was getting at the Village. He had regained the usage of his legs and was able to speak a few words. At the treatment village, they had recommended them to avail speech therapy with the help of which he might begin to talk again.

Khushi told them that they should be able to sit down for breakfast soon. Then Buaji enquired about Arnav, ‘Where is Arnav bitwa? He specifically asked us to come here this morning.’

Talk of the devil thought Khushi as she saw him coming down the stairs, and then she corrected herself ----handsome devil. He was dressed to kill in his white shirt and khaki trousers.

Arnav took in Khushi’s hot pink anarkali suit as he walked toward her. She wore a strawberry colour lipstick on her lips that seemed to beg for his attention. Siren!

After the initial pleasantries, just as everyone began to wonder what was going on, Arnav walked up to Khushi who stood next to the sofa. He suddenly went down on his knees in front of her and held out a small box in his hand.

‘Mrs Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, will you please do me the honour of marrying me……again?’ he asked her as everyone gasped.

Khushi picked up the box and opened it. Inside it lay the two bangles she had pawned at the jewellery shop in order to buy plants for Arnav a long time ago.

At her questioning look, Arnav explained to her that during his London trip, Lavanya had mentioned to him that gifting him the plants wasKhushi’s idea. Coincidentally yesterday night, the owner of the jewellery had recognized Khushi and Arnav on TV and called the AR office. He thought that Khushi might have forgotten about the bangles.

As tears welled up in Khushi eyes, Arnav stood up. She went on her tip toes snaked her arms around and enveloped him in a tight hug. Then suddenly realizing that the entire family was around, she let him go. ‘Thank you Arnvaji!’ she exclaimed as she wore her bangles. ‘I’ll see to breakfast,’ she said to everyone’s surprise as she began to walk back to the kitchen.

‘Ah……Khushi …..you haven’t given me an answer yet,’ reminded Arnav following her.

‘No,’ she said simply as she continued walking.

‘What the ___?’ asked Arnav shocked, ‘Why not?’

‘In a few months, it will be a year since we got married. What is the need to spend so much for another wedding?’ she countered.

‘Khushi, that was not a proper wedding, don’t you want people to attend your wedding?’ he asked her.

‘A very important person was at our wedding!’ she said giving a sidelong glance toward the mandir.

‘Do you think they will keep going on like this all their lives?’ asked Anjali as the couple moved out of their view.

‘I don’t think there will be one boring moment in our lives with these two around, Anjali bitiya,’ said Naniji unable to hide her joy.

‘You are absolutely right about that samdhanji,’ agreed Buaji, ‘sankadevi will definitely make sure of that.’

The arguments continued in the kitchen, ‘Don’t you want your own haldi, sangeet and mehendi? At least you won’t have to hide my name on your palm using ridiculous excuses this time.’ Arnav smirked as he remembered the way she had said Khushi KumaaariGuptaaain the exact same spot they were standing right now.

‘Whatever it was, I did have your name on my palm, didn’t I?’ she countered,‘Why should we repeat it again?’

‘Shut up Khushi!’ he growled as he backed her up against the wall.

‘Rakshas!’ she whispered as he brought his lips down on hers silencing her in the only way he knew how.

That night as little Arushi wailed, her mother took her in her arms and told her a story ----

An angel found a devil bound in chains

They were irresistibly drawn to each other

As the devil began to slowly unwind himself from his chains to reach out to her

A storm blew in plunging them into a Dark Night…….

Caught in the storm the angel bled, cried out in agony

Her screams pierced through the devil’s heart and he broke through his chains

He jumped into the storm and fought valiantly and rescued his angel

As they walked together into the Dawn, she looked up at his face –

Without his chains, the devil had become what she always knew he was

A prince