Bonds

Anjali scrutinized her puja thaali for the umpteenth time, checking to make sure she had all the necessary items. “Um… kum kum, haldi, chawal…oh diya to mein jilana hi bhool gayi!” (“Um…vermilion, turmeric, rice…oh I forgot to light the votive!”) She struck a match and bent to light the wick she’d immersed in clarified butter. As she shook the match to dissipate the lingering flame, a soft breeze wafted through the open windows surrounding the family room. The diya flickered erratically, threatening to die out. “Hey Bhagwaan!” (“Oh God!”) Trying to preserve the flame, she quickly cupped her hand around it, only to find another hand join in to help her cocoon the light, protecting it from any further disturbances. When the flame finally settled into a serene, steady glow, Anjali looked up.

Arnav met his sister’s eyes. They smiled with warm emotion at him, just as they always did. He gave her a small smile of his own, with a slight nod of his head to reassure her. Granted he didn’t believe in any of this polytheistic hoopla, but he would do anything to keep her content.

“Chotte, you came exactly at the right time!” Anjali smiled affectionately at her little brother. The same little brother who she knew was also a very busy business man. She cupped his cheek with a delicate hand. “Happy Raksha Bandan Chotte.”

“Aap ko bhi, Di.” (“Same to you Di.”) Arnav placed his hand over his sister’s and gave it a warm squeeze.

How fast did time fly by? Anjali pondered on this for a moment as she felt her brother’s beard stubble prickle against her palm. Was this the same boy who she’d secretly caught grumbling about not having any facial hair yet, at the age of sixteen? He’d grown up to become very dapper man.

“Di? You ok?”

Anjali snapped out of her reminiscence and smiled. “Haan Chotte, I’m fine. Sorry about that. Here, let me start.” She picked up her pooja thaali and commenced to take his aarti. She knew her brother had no patience for these religious rituals, but she loved him all the more for amusing her wishes. After applying the tikka on his forehead she picked up the rakhi. “Chotte, this won’t take too much longer. I know you must be in a hurry to get to the office…”

Arnav watched his sister’s fingers as they deftly tied the rakhi tightly around his wrist. Twenty nine years and counting. He no longer had to remind her to double knot it for him either. It was a silent understanding between them, and she knew he wore the rakhi and dhaaga (thread) until it fell off on its own. Until then, it would reside securely on his wrist. A reminder of his duties to his devout sister. “Di, I’m not going to the office today…”

“What? Why?? Are you not feeling well??” Anjali quickly placed a hand on his forehead to check his temperature.

“No Di, it’s nothing like that. I’m fine…. Vo kya tha (actually)….” Arnav looked back over his shoulder for a moment.

Anjali waited patiently for her brother to respond. She followed his gaze and found her precious sister-in-law standing against a nearby pillar and watched as she sent him a nod of encouragement with a slight lift of her eyebrows. Anjali pretended not to see the exchange between husband and wife as her brother met her gaze again. “Yes Chotte?”

“Di, I thought maybe we could spend the day together. You know, out…”

Anjali’s heart expanded at her brother’s sweet gesture. “Chotte, that’s very thoughtful of you, but I know you have a lot of work pending. I don’t want you to miss out…”

“Di, nonsense. I won’t miss anything. I own the damn company. It will be fine.”

“But Chotte…” Anjali hesitated. She just didn’t want to be cumbersome to him.

Before Arnav could open his mouth, his wife saddled up to his side, hugging his arm.

“Di, aap inn ko manna math keejiye ga.” (“Di, please don’t say no to him.”) Khushi pleaded with her best puppy dog eyes.

Anjali smiled. His brother’s wife was quite infectious and hard to refute. And she had been named quite aptly. Everywhere she went, she spread her happiness, blazing a trail of joy in her wake. “Alright Khushi ji. I won’t say no. But only if you come along with us!”

“Di, hum tho inn ke saat har waqt hi ho te hai…” (“Di, I’m always with him…”) Khushi admitted in a teasing tone. Maintaining her grip on her Arnavji’s arm, she leaned into her sister-in-law. “Waise, mujhe bhi thori si break chahi hai iss khardoos sai kabbi kabbi” (“But I need a little break from Mr. Cranky-Pants here sometimes too”) she explained in an exaggerated whisper, fishing for some empathy, her tone laced with humor.

Anjali could not stifle her laugh. She let a snicker pass her lips as she watched her brother’s nostrils flare and his eyes widen at his wife’s brash audacity. When his eyes connected with her own, she quickly sobered, hiding her lingering smile behind her hand as she tried to put on her best poker face. Anjali audibly cleared her throat to mask her urge to laugh again. “I’ll um… I’ll just go change Chotte…” she couldn’t help the smile that broke across her lips before she walked away.

Arnav watched his sister walk away in merriment, her head shaking slightly, no doubt in relation to his crazy wife’s antics. His attention turned to his little imp, her arms still wrapped comfortably around his bicep as she smiled up at him.

“See Arnavji? I knew she would agree!” Khushi exclaimed with excitement.

“Khardoos hm?” (“Cranky-pants, hm?”) Arnav asked in a stern tone.

Khushi straightened her posture at his clipped voice, giving her husband her biggest doe eyes possible. She nodded innocently to affirm what she’d teasingly said and added on “Par dil ke acche hai!” (“but good at heart!”).

Arnav felt his Khushi plant a swift smooch on his cheek before she fled his presence. He watched as she ran away, quickly escaping any chances of him grabbing hold of her. She scurried up the stairs and paused to look back at him, a wide grin gracing her features. His wife boldly blew him a kiss from the middle landing. When he took a step to approach, letting her know he had no qualms with chasing her down, she quickly turned an about face to hurry the remainder of the steps upstairs, down the corridor, until she was out of his view. Arnav shook his head slightly at her antics, his lips trying to suppress the urge to smile.  

When his sister came back down shortly after, he ushered the both of them to his car and began to drive.

“Chotte where are we going?”

“You’ll see Di.” Arnav responded vaguely.

About ten minutes later, Anjali noted that her brother had pulled over to a stop and began parking his vehicle. She looked out the windows and inspected her surroundings. But her view was blocked when he came around and opened the car door for her, helping her out of the vehicle. And then, when she heard the ringing of a bell, she turned to verify the familiar sound. “Chotte, you brought me to a mandhir??”

“The same mandhir you used to visit with Ma when we were younger and spent our summers with Nani.” Arnav replied.

Anjali’s jaw fell open inelegantly, unable to contain her surprise. How had he known when he’d always refused to come with them in their childhood? “Chotte, how did you know??”

“Di, I’m your brother. It’s my job to know everything that has anything to do with you” Arnav replied matter-of-factly. “Come.”

Anjali let her brother usher her towards the steps. He held onto her hand as she removed her shoes and she noted that his shoes joined hers. She again couldn’t hold back her surprise as she stared at him.

“Di, don’t give me that look. Let’s go.” Arnav rested his sister’s hand in the crook of his elbow, wanting to be her stability as she climbed the steps to the mandhir. As she stepped onto the white tile and looked around at the murtis, Arnav took in her smile.

Anjali’s eyes misted up as happy memories flooded her heart. She hadn’t realized a tear had escaped until her little brother wiped it away for her. She looked at his concerned expression and smiled, letting him know she was ok. She walked forward and reached up to ring the bell she could never grasp as a child. And yet somehow, in her adult life, it still eluded her, just out of hand. When she reached up to try again, she felt her brother help raise her arm that extra inch she needed, and they effectively rang the bell together. He continued to stand at her side as she closed her eyes and prayed. When she opened her eyes again, the pandit approached to spoon holy water into her hands. As she sipped and passed her hand over her head, she saw the pandit offer the holy water to her brother. “Pandit ji ye nahi…” And then her words died on her lips as she watched her brother raise his right hand, supported by his left, and receive the water. Since when did he know how to receive prasad?? As he passed his hand over his head, she caught sight of his gold engagement ring and she smiled. Khushi ji. What a positive enigma that woman had become in her Chotte’s life. She couldn’t help the smile that took over her face.

“Di, ready to go?” Arnav asked.

Anjali nodded and soon after found herself being taken to all her beloved places. They visited her favorite shopping center, the nearby museum she was so fond of, and the park where there was a garden she often went to collect flowers and watch the leaves of the trees change colors during the seasons. Lastly, her brother took her to get a snack at one of her favorite chaat stands. It was his inherent nature to know exactly what she would’ve liked to do during this day out.

Arnav heard his cell phone ring before he could ask his sister what she wanted to nosh on. “Di, go and order, I have to take this call.”

Anjali went ahead and ordered a chaat papdi with extra spicy chutney and masala, just like she preferred. Her mouth began to water just at the thought. As she sat at a nearby, quaint table, she saw her brother approach the stand.

“Bhai saab (Sir), I’ll have whatever she’s having.” Arnav quickly received his order, and paid the vendor, to join his sister at the table.

“Chotte, this is delicious. I really missed this place!” Anjali forgot her manners and spoke while she chewed. She couldn’t help it! The chaat was just too savory to hold back. “Chotte, what did you get?”

“Di, I got the same thing as you” Arnav said as he heaped a spoonful of chaat into his mouth.

“Same?! Chotte no, it has extra mirchi!” Anjali explained in horror. But she was too late. A nanosecond later she watched as her brother chewed, his eyes tearing up and his face turning red.

“Sssss Di!! Pani!!” Arnav hissed out between breaths as he dropped the chaat on the table. He opened his mouth and futilely tried to fan some air into his mouth.

“Chotte, yeh loh (here)! Drink this!!” Anjali held a glass of ice water to his lips.

Arnav quickly confiscated the water from his sister and gulped it down as fast as he could. The ice melted as it swished along his tongue and cooled his throat. He sniffed back his runny nose and wiped at his wet eyes as he continued to hiss at the burning in his mouth. “Di, who eats that much mirchi?!!” he accused.

When Anjali met his red face and watched as he desperately chewed on an ice cube, she let a giggle slip past her lips.

Arnav met his sister’s eyes with annoyance at first. When he saw the way they glowed with humor, he paused to take in the situation. The Arnav Singh Raizada couldn’t even handle a little chili powder. Who was he kidding? She had every right to laugh. He probably looked like a clown. He watched the way his sister’s giggles morphed into a full blown laugh, and he couldn’t resist the way it pulled at him to begin laughing as well. His lips stretched into a grin before his belly erupted with laughter. They sat, brother and sister, heartily sniggering at the predicament.

As Anjali finally composed herself, her laughter finding a bit of calm, she listened to her brother’s robust chuckles. It truly warmed her heart to see him like this. She always thought he was his handsomest when he laughed, but he did it so infrequently. That is until Khushi ji had entered his life. She had managed to make him laugh more times in the past two years than he’d ever laughed in his life. Yet another thing she adored her sister-in-law for. “Waise Chotte, tell me something…”

“Haan (Yes) Di?”

“If you can’t handle too much mirchi, how did you end up with a girl like Khushi ji?” Anjali asked with a lift of her eyebrows.

Arnav found his gaze skittering away at his sister’s remark.

Anjali smiled in triumph at her quip as her little brother’s ears turned red with chagrin. She knew she had him. Deciding to put him out of his misery, she placed her hand on his forearm to get his attention. “Chotte, challo. Let’s go home.”

On the drive back to Shantivan, Arnav intermittently looked at his sister as she absently gazed out the window, a bright smile taking permanent residence on her face. He wanted to think he was responsible for making her happy today, but in all honesty he’d be amiss if he didn’t give his Khushi some credit. If she hadn’t suggested the day out, it might not have happened. With thoughts of his wife now infiltrating his mind, he grew anxious to see her. He hadn’t seen or heard from her since they’d left the house this morning. Arnav walked his sister to her room and bid her a goodnight.

Anjali lifted her brother’s hand, letting her thumb trace over the rakhi she’d tied on him in the morning. The thread between a brother and sister, keeping them attached with a vow to love and protect each other. “Chotte I had a wonderful time today, thank you.”

“Di, I promise. Mein issay hamesha nibahu ga.” (“Di, I promise. I will always uphold this.”) Arnav replied as he looked at the rakhi.

Anjali drew her not-so-little brother into an embrace. “Mujhe patha hai Chotte. (I know Chotte.) You always have.” She drew back and placed a light kiss on his forehead. “Goodnight Chotte.”

Arnav smiled. He would never be too old to receive the maternal love his sister always bestowed upon him. “Goodnight Di.” After his sister entered her room and closed the doors, he set about looking for the other woman who had his heart. As he came into his bedroom he called out to her. “Khushi?” When there was no response, he searched the bathroom. He knew she couldn’t have been elsewhere in the house as the lights had already been turned down in the foyer and everyone was in their respective rooms. “Where is she…? Khu…” Arnav was silenced when he stepped out poolside and saw his precious wife curled up on one of the pool chairs, slumbering peacefully. He didn’t have to wonder as to why she was outside, knowing very well she must’ve fallen asleep while indulging in her affinity for star gazing. He caressed a hand over her silky hair then cupped her shoulder, giving her a slight shake to try and rouse her. “Khushi…”

“Hmmm…”

His wife grumbled a protest, letting it be known she was quite comfortable and didn’t want to be disturbed. Arnav shifted his hands to scoop her up but as he slid his hand towards her neck, she turned in her sleep, taking his hand with her to rest under her cheek. She snuggled her face into his palm, holding it there with one hand as she once again settled into her deep sleep. He shook his head in disbelief and sighed aloud. “Pagal ladki. Patha nahi kaise sothi hai.” (“Crazy girl. I have no idea how she sleeps.”) Giving in to his trapped hand, he sat in the chair and lay down next to her. As he shifted closer, his wife turned again, only this time to completely drape herself across his body. She’d hooked her thigh across his lap with her arm lying across his chest, her hand fisted possessively into the collar of his shirt. He smirked to himself. “As if I could actually go anywhere with her like this” he thought aloud. She further snuggled her head onto his chest, her ear resting over his heart. One way or another, his wife always managed to fit into all his nooks perfectly. As she ceased all her movements, he took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he settled his cheek atop her head. He closed his eyes and drifted into dreamland with her.

Anjali decided to take the shortcut through the poolside to go into the kitchen and refill her water jug. And as she stepped outside, she stopped in her tracks. She was blessed with the sight of her brother and his wife, slumbering blissfully in each other’s’ arms. Her heart warmed as her eyes welled up at the sweet picture they made. She approached them quietly and lightly tucked a blanket around the both of them. Anjali smiled anew and sent a silent prayer of thankfulness to Devi Maiya for filling her Chotte’s heart. It gave her immense joy to know her brother had allowed love to enter his life. And so, she no longer had to worry about him as much. Now that he’d found his Khushi. 

Author's Note: I know this is not my usual topic of writing, but I couldn't help the scenes that kept unfolding in my head! I have always been fond of the relationship between Arnav & Anjali. Being a sister myself, I cherish sibling bonds. And so, I hope you enjoyed the story! Wishing all the brothers & sisters out there a very Happy Raksha Bandan.