Chapter 7

Chapter 6 ~ Expect the Unexpected II

As Arnav and Khushi prepared for bed, Khushi knew that anytime, Arnav would get into Besharam-mode. To save herself from further embarrassment, she slumped onto the bed and pretended to fall asleep.

Her throat went dry when she felt the mattress dip; Arnavji was the serious after all!

She gulped as Arnav's hands went around her waist again and pulled her closer. "You are a terrible actress Khushi…" he murmured, kissing her jaw.

"Wh-Whose acting?" she stuttered, forgetting that she was supposed to be asleep.

Arnav chuckled. "I suppose it is your ghost pretending to be asleep…?"

"Laad Governor!" she muttered.

"By the way, FIVE KIDS? You think we can manage Khushi? I mean, three more crazy mini Khushis will be too much for me to handle…! How about we go for the twins, one boy, the other girl of course. Other than that, two boys and one girl?"

"What, no! I am not able to handle one Laad Governor Only. How will I handle three additional miniature ones!" she retorted at once.

Arnav's victorious chuckle made her want to eat back her words. "So…. You are okay with it?"

"Of course! I mean…." She trailed away realizing what he meant and shrieked again "NOT! Of course NOT! You besharam Laad Governor! Go to sleep!"

Arnav chuckled, and resting his head over Khushi's, he fell asleep.

Khushi lay awake for sometime, staring at the wall.

Her mind desperately yelled at her to unlock his embrace and move to the recliner, but her heart… It told her to enjoy the last few days of being loved back. Sighing, she pushed herself slightly into him and fell asleep.

*

The next day brought another surprise. NK came back home with a girlfriend. A FRENCH girlfriend.

She was a tall brunette with blue eyes and pale skin- Marie Dupont.

Nani was slightly taken aback, but after some convincing from NK and Khushi and Arnav, she gave in.

Manorama had given permission instantly. "Oph course babua! Humre liye efrench perfoom laane ka padi hein?" she had said pompously.

NK didn't want to go for a wedding right away. He wanted Marie to get familiar with the culture and people, so that she'd know what she was stepping into. He said that after a few days, he'd take her to Sydney and introduce her to his parents.

Dadi didn't mind too much either.

Amit would drop in often with his lawyer friend to discuss the divorce, and so would Akshay. And of course, the Raizada ladies' eye fell on the bachelor. They saw him less as a bachelor and more like a package in the market, waiting to be sold, i.e, waiting to get married.

Akshay squirmed between Nani and Mami, as they kept talking about his marriage, and when they finally got to sending photos of girls to his mother, he finally spoke up timidly. "I already have a girlfriend…"

Arnav straightened at once, narrowing his eyes at Akshay. Akshay was his best buddy, and he hadn't told him… Why…

"You know her Arnav…" Akshay said.

Arnav quirked an eyebrow. "I do?"

"Yeah. Kui knows her too."

Khushi's eyes widened and turned to look at Arnav. "How can we BOTH know the same person?"

"Lavanya…" Akshay smiled.

"What!" Arnav choked.

Khushi laughed delightedly. "Wow! Two of my bestest of friends will get hitched! Akki did you tell Bhaiyya? And my God, when is the wedding?"

"I-I didn't propose her yet… For marriage…" Akshay said sheepishly.

"Yay! Then I'll help you!" Khushi smiled.

*

Anjali and Amit were sitting in a caf, awaiting the arrival of Amit's lawyer friend. A lot of discussions had been going on between the trio.

Shyam was being charged with 3 murder attempts- Anjali, Arnav and Shashi Gutpa, 1 Murder- Muskaan nee Singhania Gupta, Adultery- Anjali, Harassment and torture- Khushi & providing false proof at court.

The divorce papers stated that Shyam would have to pay back every single penny he had used from Anjali's account. Papers were to be finalized today.

{I have no idea what I am talking about =_= }

"Anjaliji, are you okay?" Amit asked, looking at Anjali's anxious face.

"Yes Amitji. Thank you for asking…" she said softly. "I just want to get this over with…"

Amit nodded, and kept his hand on Anjali's, which was on the table. "It'll be okay…"

Anjali looked at his hand on hers… She liked the warm feeling. "Thank you…" she smiled softly.

"You're welcome…" Amit smiled, looking into her milk-chocolate eyes.

"Not just for this. Everything. You have been of great help to me Amitji… If it wasn't for you, I would have had no clue that Khushiji was still…." She trailed.

Amit patted her hand and shook his head. "It is alright Anjaliji. You have been a victim too…"

Anjali gave Amit a small smile, trying not to concentrate too much on the tingling in her palms.

The lawyer arrived with a serious face.

"Mayank? What is it?" Amit asked, worried.

"I don't know how you'll take this but… I-I have news from jail…"

"What?" Anjali asked, tensing.

"Jha and Mallik have killed each other…."

"WHAT!"

"They got into a fight in the prison cell apparently, each accusing the other of double crossing. They were surrounded by criminals, so the fight turned big. Mallik was hurled to the floor cause a critical injury, killing him on the spot RIGHT after he attacked and killed Jha with broken aluminium plate."

{Kay, I know. SEVERELY lame, but I just wanted these two to make an exit forever from the SS and never trouble these people again… =_- }

*

Khushi was in the kitchen, making dozens of jalebis. Why did problems after problems keep showing their ugly faces to her?

Was it necessary for Amma to call her beloved 'Damaadji' and Khushi to her house for two days? Was it? It was not of course, but she did anyway! She just KNEW that the whole world was conspiring against her! Thankfully, Jiji and Jiju were invited too, or she'd be with that Laad Governor all alone with his unpredictable modes!

As soon as Amma had called, he had gone into smirk-mode and had almost gone into I-will-trap-you-against-the-wall mode, but then her hormonal Jiji had come in and saved her….

They were leaving tomorrow.

She sighed as she finished the batter.

She headed upstairs to her room, to pack her things.

*

Khushi sat on the bed, flipping through the channels, not really watching anything. The sound from the TV helped her to drown the buzzing in her head.

She stopped and stared at the screen when a small baby appeared, his mother cuddling him and kissing his tiny little forehead- Johnson Baby Soap.

She stared at the screen and at the baby, her lower lip trembling. Her eyes filled with tears as she couldn't help but imagine how she would have played with her child and how she'd have put him to sleep…

Arnav walked into the room from the poolside and saw Khushi staring with moist eyes at the TV, ready to burst into tears. Wondering whether she was watching any serial, he peeked at the screen of the TV, and stiffened.

Baby soap was being advertised, and in the background, the mother was playing with the little baby.

He saw Khushi's nose turning red and a lone tear escape her eye. In one fluid movement, he switched off the TV and was next to Khushi in two steps.

He cupped her face, and wiped her tear with his thumb. "Khushi?"

Her eyes turned to him, and Arnav flinched from the raw pain he saw in them. He hugged her tightly, and whispered the softest of apologies in her ear.

*

The minute he said sorry, Khushi wanted to forget everything at least for that moment, and cry her heart out.

And that's what she did. Her hands rested on his chest and she fisted his shirt tightly and began to cry into his shoulder, as he shushed her with consoling little pats on her back with one hand, and stroked her hair with the other, as if she were a delicate little child.

And both of them, wished the moment could freeze.