Smitar's: Finding Khushi #11 Link to #12 on Page 1 - Page 12

Smita,😊

Here is the interpretation to Section 6 of Part 43.

While Khushi, sauntered down the corridor to her room she shared with Anamika, with her lustrous hair swinging against her hips, NK was left trying to make sense of what had just occurred. He just could not figure out what exactly he needed to do! Meanwhile Khushi stopped short at Arnav's door that was open. Checking around and Khushi finding the coast to be clear with no family members lurking around but just a few workers hanging around decorating she slipped into Arnav's room. Arnav was sitting on his black recliner by the pool with his laptop switched on. But his mind was swirling on Khushi and how would she have taken what Anamika had briefed her about the stag party. He was feeling that he should have stayed back with her. He felt frustrated unable to see her and witness how she had taken it. Clenching his jaws at his helplessness he tightened his fingers around his phone.

The sound, Arnavji, made him look up and find the object of his contemplation appear right in front of him. Finding Khushi in all smiles, instead of tears copiously flowing down her cheeks that he had braced himself to deal with, Arnav was relieved. Walking upto him in haste, Khushi giving him an enchanting smile told, since no one was visible along the corridor, she simply slipped into his room. His relief at seeing her smiling visage was so great that, he pulled her unceremoniously by her arm and made her sit on the recliner by him. He lay back, looking at her as she sat by him, keeping her hand in his. He told her, that he had asked NK to cancel the party, NK and his stupid ideas! giving vent to his frustration at NK's enthusiasm that had put him in a foul mood. Traces of anger at NK, was still lingering in his voice. His declaration made Khushi frown at him and say, Cancelling the party? But why? stupid idea? It was not at all a stupid idea. How can it be a stupid idea to spend time with your friends? Arnav who was still smarting, growled, that he does not have any friends, but only acquaintances. Khushi with a laugh, tweaking his chin asked him, how can he have friends if he was such a grumpy bear? Arnav was silenced by her talk. With her, you attend the party and have fun with good non-veg food and liquor while they ladies will have very their own hen do, with golgappe and dance the night away, she made him gasp with astonishment. Seeing his expression, Khushi, secure with the new found knowledge asked him, why was he so shocked? Anamikaji had told her that men do things at the bachelor's party that they normally don't do at home. Arnav sent a mental thanks to Anamika. He was grateful to her for having explained tactfully to Khushi. When Khushi said, Anamikaji had told her that Nanheji would invite his male and female friends to the function to dance and have fun together, Arnav had to swallow the lump of fright that was forming inside him. Khushi saying, that she was very angry and upset with Nanheji, had him sit upright and take her in his arms and murmur, Khushi... Khushi, putting her arms around his shoulders, continued to say that, she had been to fight with Nanheji. At Nanheji's assurance, that he had not invited any girl and it was an exclusively men party, she could not hold, not inviting her, against him. How could she when he had not invited any girl? She said so looking into his eyes with her innocent ones.

Arnav stared at her amazed with realization, that she had not understood Anamika's words and also she had misunderstood NK. It was a good thing, that she was not hurt by this spoof. Now was the time for him, to draw the curtains over this act of buffoonery.  He stated to her, that he was not interested in any party. Nor was Ganesh, he was sure. They would rather spend the evening together with them... Khushi told him, that their party was for women only. So he and Ganeshji had to go with Nanheji. His protest, Khushi..., was brushed aside and was told, that Nanheji would be so disappointed if they don't attend it! And Jiju and Gaurav... she was sure would want to celebrate their wedding. Please do go! His protest, Khushi.., once more went unheeded. She was in no mood to listen to him. Giving him a tight hug, Khushi told him that they were getting married. So let us try to make the rest happy. She told him to spend the evening with Nanheji while she would spend it with the family. Arnav's peeved, whether she really intends him to attend his stag party? had her confused! She asked, Stag party? Is that what it is called? And the very next minute, with an amused laugh she told him, to go to this stag party while she attends her doe party, like they were deers! For Arnav it was a deliciously piquant position. Knowing Khushi and her persuasive power, he had to agree to attend his stag party when he did not even want to and it was just meant for Keeping Khushi happy.

Anamika walking upto Ganesh, beaming a smile told him, that NK has planned a treat for him. Ganesh's face relaxed at the sight of his beautiful bride-to-be. He queried softly, A treat? Was it something to be scared of?  When Anamika with a chuckle told him, that it was a bachelor party night, Ganesh was horrified. Anamika was tickled pink to see his face that was a picture of horror. His, can he stay back or can she go with him to the party, amused her to no end. Anamika resorted to shaking her head to convey her reluctance as her howl of laughter was preventing her from verbalizing. Ganesh was charmed to see Anamika laughing so heartily, that he put his arms gently around her and pulled her into a warm embrace. He promised her to keep an eye on Gaurav. Anamika told him, that she knew that he would. The last time Gaurav drank was at ASR's party, and he had a mother of all hangovers. Maybe it has taught him the value of restraint. Ganesh wished, it had taught him so too and promised, otherwise to carry him home. Anamika, with a smile instructed to Ganesh, not to let Gaurav share his daaru, as Khushi calls it, with the furry friend of his given by him. He stretches his sense of sharing too far. Ganesh agreed to keep an eye on both.

Ganesh looked at Arnav, and both looked at an excited NK, Akash, Gaurav and Scooby with resignation. Arnav whispered, that he got them to shift the venue from Purple Rocket to his farmhouse. Ganesh hearing the name of the night club that they had deemed fit to hold the party, shuddered knowing that it was known for notoriety. Arnav continued to say, that he had tried to limit the guest list with a few of NK's friends from his gym, Akash's few college mates... eliciting a nod from Ganesh. Arnav reassured Ganesh with, no girls, no strippers or whatever. Thank God! was the response from the devout Ganesh. It was a pair of reluctant grooms, who left the house along with the others, for the party held in their honour.

This update is about tendency to make lucky discoveries unexpectedly, SERENDIPITY.

NK was the first to make one such discovery. When he had thought he would be hauled over coals and Khushiji would go ballistic over Stag Party, he was merely chastised by her for not inviting her and when told it was an exclusive mens' party she had wished him good luck, happy time and even told him to make Nannav dance! It was just dumb luck that he came out unscathed with Khushiji's friendship intact.

"It's a bizarre but wonderful feeling, to arrive dead     center of a target you didn't even know you were       aiming for"

                                       ~ Lois McMaster Bujold

Next Khushi came across an unexpected lucky discovery that allowed her to slip into Arnav's room without anyone knowing it. She found the corridor deserted as though it was beconing her to enter Arnav's room. It was by fluke that all the family members were engaged elsewhere.  It was really a happenstance that when Arnav was wondering how to contact Khushi to see how she had taken the explanation of Stag Party by Anamika she appeared before him in his room. Her happy radiant face was a blessing in disguise to Arnav, who was all geared up to see a replica of weeping willow. 

(Weeping willow is a tree that has drooping branches and not weep as the name indicates) 

When she told him of the lucky break she got, that enabled her to slip in through his door unnoticed, a relieved Arnav, made her sit next to him in the recliner. His announcement, that he has made NK cancel the party and venting his fury at NK's stupid ideas had Khushi contest his decision. She told him that it was not a stupid idea and he needed to attend, spend some time with his friends. His contention that he had no friends, but mere acquaintances had her tweak his chin and say, how can he have friends when he is as cross as a bear. Her talk silenced his protests. She told him to go to the party and have his fill of non-veg dishes that he relishes along with liquor, while the ladies will have their own hen party. Her thoughts on the party made him gasp out in astonishment. It was a happy chance, that she who held firm to her ideals was giving him a lee way. She was ready to bend her rules within limits if it would give him happiness! Her explanation of what Anamika had told that it would have male and female friends mingling together and have fun, had made her angry at NK, making Arnav take her in his arms. The subsequent result of going up in arms and NK placating her saying only food and drinks and no girls, was a lucky discovery for her.It had put her in good mood. The reason for her anger directed at NK in the first place was being not inviting her and subsequently being pacified by the knowledge that no girls were invited and it is only men party, made her say, how could she then be angry with Nanheji!

"Of course, that's how life is. A turn of events may      seem very small at the time it's happening, but you    never really know, do you? How can you?"

                                       ~Tom Xavier

Stumbling upon Khushi's take on stag party was good for Arnav to know that she was unnecessarily not hurt and it was frutuitous that she mistook NK's explanation and apology. He detected that she had not captured what Anamika had meant and her insistence that he and Ganesh had to attend it, made him want to disclose what the party really meant. Her argument, by not let him get a word in edgewise was that, since they were getting married, they should strive to make others happy. By both attending different parties, they would be making the rest happy too. Stumbling upon the pun, she was even able to crack a joke on how he would attend his stag party, where as, she would attend her doe party, as though they were deers. Though exasperated by her insistence, he had a lucky break, to be left in a piquant position of having to agree to attend the party much against his wishes just to keep his lady love happy! Instead of having to console Khushi, he was being egged on by her to enjoy the party kept in his honor!

"Vital lives are about action. You can't feel warmth     unless you create it, can't feel delight until you play,   can't know serendipity unless you risk"

                                      ~ Joan Erickson

Anamika, telling Ganesh that a Bachelor's Party has been organized for him and Arnav, has him aghast. Anamika  cracked up seeing his unease and troubled expression, and his request to either let him stay back or she accompany him increased her mirth so much that, she could just nod a no and was unable to verbalize her thoughts. Ganesh's assurance he would see to that Gaurav does not go overboard as he had done at ASR's party was frutuitous for Anamika, as it set her mind at rest. So was Anamika's reminder that Ganesh to be on the look out and not let Gaurav share his daaru with his canine friend, Scooby.

"Sometimes serendipity is just intention unmasked"

                                       ~ Elizabeth Berg,                                                          The Year of Pleasures

Finally when they were all set to go, Arnav whispering to Ganesh, that he had the venue changed from notorious night club Purple Rocket to his farm house, trimmed the guest list and had it cut down to a few of NK's gym friends and a few of Akash's college mates, no girls, no strippers, had both heave a sigh of relief. It was indeed a blessing for both of them, Arnav having tripped over the fact, that a stag party was being organized in secrecy from Khushi by fluke. This chance discovery enabled him to set things to their satisfaction. It was indeed a trouvaille, a lucky find or else, Ganesh and Arnav, might have found themselves amidst a wild party at a notorious night club which they both would not have liked, given the faith and trust reposed on them by their brides-to-be. With great reluctance the two grooms-to-be left for the party to be held in their honour.

"Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance.         Strong men believe in cause and effect"

                                      ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hence this update is titled SERENDIPITY.

That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it.