Arnav and Khushi both stood next to each other at the doorstop of Seesh Mahal while Anjali circling the pooja thal in front of them. Anjali put tilak on both Arnav and Khushi's forhead.
Anjali put a rice filed kalash near the door " Push the kalash with your right leg, Khushiji "
Khushi did what she was told; she gently pushed the rice kalash with the toe of her right foot and about to enter but Anjali stopped her from entering.
Anjali " Stop stop stop ... arey you cannot enter just like that "
Dadi " Chote, according to our Raizada tradition for Girha pravesh ritual you have to carry Khushi Bitiya in your arms and enter inside "
Anjali " Yes Chote ... You just carry your bride in your arms and come inside " with teasing smile
Akshat " Saale Sahab ... what are you waiting for? Pick up your bride and come inside now " teasingly
Arnav bent down and picked Khushi up swiftly into his arms as if she was feather light. Others hooted and clapped as Arnav stepped inside Seesh Mahal with Khushi in his arms. Khushi looked anywhere but at his face, too shy to face him.
Arnav made Khushi stand on her feet.
Dadi “ Khushi Bitiya, keep your feet in this thal” pointing thaal filled with vermilion water “ And walk to our puja ghar to lit the diya”
Khushi kept her foot in thaal filled with vermilion water then walk toward the puja ghar of the house leaving imprint of her feet behind. She lit the diya and took the blessings of god.
All move to hall where post-wedding game going to happen.
Dadi " As soon as I drop this ring into the bowl, you both shall start looking for it. The one, who finds the ring, first, wins! "
Anjali “The person who wins is said to rule their partners married life too ” smiling
Dadi put a big bowl filled with milk and rose petals in front of them, Arnav and Khushi are sitting opposite to each other. Dadi drop the ring with some stone pedals in milk.
Anjali " Come on Khushiji, you will win " started cheering Khushi along with all girls
Akshat " No-No, Arnav hi jeetega, we all know " confidently along with other boys
Arnav and Khushi both put their hand in bowl to search the ring. Anjali along with other girls are cheering for Khushi while Akshat with other boys for Arnav. It become boys vs girls. Arnav and Khushi both search the ring with so much concentration. Few minutes later Arnav get the ring.
Arnav pull the ring out of the bowl “ Arnav Singh Raizada never loose ” smirking
Anjali along with her cousin sisters took Khushi to Arnav's king chamber with them and Arnav stayed with boys in hall while elders left for their respective rooms.
Opening the door to Arnav's bedroom, Khushi felt her breath being taken away as she gazed at the big room. The room was humongous would be an understatement with three times bigger than her house in Gomti Sadan. To say the humongous room with red walls and golden celling intimidated by the large king-sized golden bed with red silk sheets, scenic portraits framed in gold frames and antique lamps over the walls, antique vases and other show pieces all over the room, large windows draped with red silk curtains, one split ac beside the right window, a huge golden antique almirah at right side wall and beside an antique dressing table, even a separate alcove having 4 seaters velvet red couch with two single seater sofa set and a large full HD Smart LED TV; and the floor carpet beneath her feet so thick and soft making feel like walking on cloud.
The room was decorated beautifully with red rose petals and well-lit by the fragrance candles. The bed had rose petals strewn in the form of a heart shape on the middle of the bed and hanging from the centre of the ceiling and cascading to the floor around the bed were beautiful white and red roses forming a net of beauty surrounding the massive king size bed. Never in her dreams had Khushi even imagined living in a plush place like this.
Anjali with girls left after teasing Khushi a lot. Khushi was sitting in the center of the decorated bed in bridal style with her lengha spread around her.
Looking down at her lap, she looked at her darkened mehndi adorning hands. Her eyes skimmed over the letters that were hidden in the mehndi design that Arnav was meant to find on the night. Her heart sank as she thought of the suhaag raat. Would he force himself upon her if she did not want it? How would he treat her? Gently or roughly? Would it be very painful? She had heard from her friends and cousins the first time always painful.
Her hands fisted up in nervousness hearing the door click open and then close. She heard footsteps coming closer to the bed and then parted the flower curtain. Khushi could feel her heart thumping in nervousness and she bit her lip to not let any sound of fear escape her lips.
For a moment Arnav thought that he had entered the wrong room. His chamber is dimly lit with scented candles and red rose petals all over. The dull grey curtains of the windows had been replaced by bright red ones. He walked to bed and parted the flowers curtain. For a moment he forgot that he needed to breathe seeing the most beautiful bride sitting there right on his bed. Her trembling rosy lips and heaving chest were begging his attention.
Arnav's hand fisted from the need to touch her. But he didn't let himself seeing her so nervous. No doubt he attracted towards her. He would never force himself on her for his corporeal needs like a monster. He want to claim her with her full consent.
Arnav " Are you planning to sleep like that ? "
Khushi " I..I.. " shutter
Arnav " I'm going to bathroom first " walked to his almirah and with his clothes went to the bathroom
After 20 minutes when Arnav came into room changing into his nightclothes and rubbing his wet hair with towel, he saw Khushi sitting in front of the mirror; her veil was taken off along with her gazillion head pins. Discarding the towel on recliner, he threw himself on the left side of the bed. He watched her taking off her numerous necklaces, maang tikka, armlets, bangles, earrings and waistband. Once all her jewelry was off, he saw her walking towards the almirah. Khushi took out her night cloth and moved to the bathroom with it.
Khushi stood amazed seeing the size of Arnav's bathroom five times bigger than her room at home. It is super lavish interiors with There was a massive wet area and then a large round bath in the corner of the room. Towards the wall, approximately halfway through the room, stood a large marble dresser with 2 in built sinks and a large mirror.
She removed her lehenga choli and neatly folded on a hanger near the wash basin where Arnav's clothes kept. Tip toeing naked she grabbed a soft fluffy white unused towel hanging on the radiator and taking her brand new toiletries from the cabinet entered the wet room.
Arnav was checking his emails on mobile when bathroom door was opened. He saw Khushi emerged out of bathroom. His jaw dropped to the floor seeing her in embroidered satin ankle-length nightgown. It had an empire waistline, thin spaghetti straps with cleavage too deep and the back too low; and to make things worse it was his favorite color RED.
He stared at her shamelessly. Thankfully for him Khushi was busy towel drying her wet hair.
With great difficulty Arnav tore his eyes off the much tempting sight in front of him and turned away to grab a bottle of cold water from the bedside and downed it in one go. He switched off the bedside light and shut his eyes trying to get her image out of his mind. Few minutes later he felt Khushi too lied down on the other end of the bed with her back towards him.