Chapter 16

[MEMBERSONLY]

PART - 16

In the morning when Khusi reached at the breakfast table, everyone was present there including Arnav. They had reached in the wee hours of morning before anyone had woken up. And once inside their room, Arnav had pulled her to the bed to show her how much he loved loving her and as a result of the passionate early morning she had slept late and even missed the morning aarti. Now she was too shy to go before the family members. What happened between them is common for couples but she was feeling shy to meet the family.

She finally reached the dining table and apologised.

Khusi: "Sorry Naniji, I slept till late."

Nani: "It is okay bitiya. Chote told us that you two came late last night and you were not feeling well... you have your breakfast and then rest for some more time. You will feel better."

Khusi nodded her head and sat down to have her breakfast. Arnav smiled at her and she shyly returned the smile before concentrating on her food. Payal saw her smiling and got angry and decided that she will talk to her today itself no matter what.

Arnav broke the silence on the table and asked: "Di, how is jijaji now?"

Anjali (Trying to control her tears): "Not good. There are so many boil and burn in his body. Whole night he couldn't sleep. Today morning I have given him a sleeping pill that doctor has advised. He is sleeping now... Don't know what is happening to him. Just a day before he fell sick with bad stomach and now this..."

Arnav: "Relax Di. He will be fine soon."

NK who was sitting beside Anjali side hugged her and said: "Nannav is right Di. You don't worry. He will be fine."

Anjali: "I wish so. I have talked to Panditji, will go to meet him. He will suggest some puja to be done."

Nani: "That is right bitya. But now you have your food properly. You have a life growing inside you."

Anjali nodded and continued having her breakfast.

Inside Arshi's room:

Arnav was getting ready for office when Khusi came in.

Khusi: "Are you going to office Arnavji?"

Arnav: "I guess at this time I go to office only."

Khusi didn't say anything and sat on the bed as she was having pain in weird places and she wanted to rest. Arnav saw her sitting silently and her face showed well that she is not feeling well. He sat beside her and said: "I am sorry Khusi. Did I hurt you last night? I didn't mean to ..."

Khusi who had turned red with the mentioning of last night cupped Arnav's face and said: "You have not hurt me Arnavji. It is normal. You stop blaming yourself again and again. This is what is hurting me. Please don't say sorry again. I do not like it."

Arnav hugged her sideways and said: "Okay, I won't... Though I don't want to go office today but it is really important, I need to go. Will come back soon. You take rest and sleep for time (smirking added) ... because you won't get good sleep tonight also."

Khusi listening to her shameless husband opened her mouth wide in O-shape but that helped Arnav's cause better. He covered her mouth with his for a lovely kiss. He broke the kiss after having his fill and stood up to leave, but before he could walk he felt Khusi holding his hand. He turned towards her and she stood up. She kissed his cheeks, making Arnav smile and said: "Come back soon Arnavji. I will miss you."

Arnav cupping her cheeks and kissing her forehead: "I will." Taking out a couple of credit cards from his bag and handing it over to her said: "Those are yours from now on. This one is linked to my personal account. This one is of our joint account and those two are of your accounts. All of their credit is unlimited."

Khusi looked at them and said: "I don't need them Arnavji. What will I do with those many cards?"

Arnav: "You will use them. What else should you be doing with these?"

Khusi: "There was no need for these Arnavji. Why did you..."

Arnav cutting her off: "Look Khusi if you are again going to say that no need to spend money on you then get one thing clear. You are my wife and I am your husband. There is nothing mine or yours anymore. Everything that I owned is now ours. So stop blabbering about you not needing anything. Whole of my family uses what I earn. Money is essential Khusi. And you as my wife, I expect you to show rights on my things."

Khusi nodded her head and took the cards from him.

Arnav: "Your chequebooks will arrive in a couple of days... I need to go now. Will be back soon."

Khusi: "Will you be coming for lunch?"

Arnav: "I will try to. And you take rest, no need to roam around the whole house." saying that he kissed her cheeks again and left for office.

Khusi rested for some time and then went to the kitchen to help in lunch preparation, as she thought working in kitchen will help her as by staying idle she was missing Arnav a lot. When she reached downstairs no one was present in the hall. Payal was in the kitchen cooking along with HP helping her. She too went inside the kitchen.

Khusi: "Hari Prakashji; where is everyone?"

HP: "Bhabiji, Mamiji and Anjali Didi have gone to the temple. They will be arriving soon. Naniji is resting in her room. NK bhaiya is with Jijaji and Mamaji has gone out for some work."

Khusi: "Okay. What have you cooked for lunch?"

HP: "I have already cooked rice and dal. Payal bhabi is making khichdi and kadi for jijaji as he is prohibited to have food with spices and oil. I still have to make some curry and have made the dough, will make the rotis just before lunch."

Khusi: "Okay then. You don't have to worry. I will make the curry."

HP: "Bhabiji there is lot of paneer in the freeze. We should use it by today or else it will get spoilt."

Khusi: "Hmm... we can make matar paneer for everyone and paneer pakoras for Di, she was telling me yesterday that she loves to eat it... At this stage she should eat what she likes to eat. You take out the ingredients. I will cut the paneer."

HP nodded and started taking out the ingredients and Khusi went to get the paneer from the refrigerator. Payal who was silent till now spoke of: "Khusi, you don't have to cook anything as I don't need your help. I can cook on my own."

Khusi who was not good mood as she was missing her husband terribly didn't reply to her as taking to Payal was the last thing she would do. Payal got irritated by not getting any response, so she took the paneer plate that Khusi was holding and shouted: "Didn't you listen to what I said. I said I don't want your help. I am very well capable of cooking for my family."

Khusi: "For your kind information Payal, I am not your assistant to help you. This is my family too and you should remember that you are my Devrani. So talk with respect."

Payal had never thought that Khusi would respond this way. She had imagined Khusi to get sad, cry and run away from there or plead her to let her cook. But this was beyond her imagination.

Payal: "How dare you talk to me in this manner? Did you forget that you are nothing but an or..."

Her sentence was left hanging in middle as Akash came into the kitchen.

Akash: "What has happened Payalji, why are you taking in such a high tone?"

Before Payal could reply Khusi said: "Nothing Akashji, it is just that she forgot her own designation."

Akash: "Designation!! matlab?"

Khusi: "Kuch nehi Akashji. By the way you here at this time. Returned back early from office, it is not even 11?"

Akash: "No Bhabi. Today there is an emergency meeting at AR construction. Bhai had given me an important file to study. I came to take that file."

Khusi: "Oh... Are you brothers coming home for lunch or not? Arnavji had said he will be coming for lunch."

Akash: "I don't know Bhabi. There was an important meeting at AR fashion for which Bhai was there. But out of the blue a problem has arisen at AR construction. Finishing his meeting there Bhai will see me directly at the other office. Don't know how long it will take."

Khusi: "I understand. But please you both have your lunch at right time."

Akash: "We will. Need to run now. Bye Bhabi. (Looked at Payal shyly to which Khusi gave a teasing look to him)... Bye Payalji."

Payal: "Bye Akashji..."

Akash left from there and Khusi got herself busy in cooking ignoring the angry look of Payal. Payal remembered that she had to Khusi about Shyam, and she has to talk to her today itself. Thinking that she said to HP: "Hari Prakashji will you please see to if Dadiji needs anything?" She needs to be alone with Khusi while she talks to her and today no one is at home, so it is the golden opportunity. HP nodded his head and went to see if Naniji needed anything.

Payal: "Khusi, I have to talk to you." (Not getting any response from her, she raised her voice) "KHUSI, I need to talk to you." (Still not getting her attention, she forcefully turned Khusi by holding her shoulders towards her) "ARE YOU DEAF? CAN'T YOU LISTEN TO ME? I AM SAYING THAT I NEED TO TALK TO YOU."

Khusi removed her hand from her shoulders and very calmly said: "You need to talk. So your mouth and tongue need to work. My ears are not bound to listen what you are saying."

Payal: "What do you think of yourself, just because Arnavji supported you at Buaji's place you think you own the world? Remember if he comes to know about your and Shyamji's relation then he will not take a moment to throw you out of this house and his life."

Khusi was initially shocked listening to her but then broke out into a huge laughter: "Hey Devimaiya!! You think mine and my husband's relation is so weak? You better know it that he loves me and love comes with trust. So instead of thinking about what Arnavji will do to me, it's better you concentrate on your and Akashji's relation. I don't want my brother like Devar to suffer because of a girl like you."

Payal was raged listening to her.: "You don't have to advise me on my relation to Akashji. He loves me and that is why he married me taking the permission of family. He is not like your husband a casanova who has relations with hundred girls before and then suddenly elopes and marries you just to satisfy his desires. He..." Before she could continue she felt someone's hand on her cheeks followed by hot burning feeling.

Khusi couldn't take it when she spoke badly about Arnavji, her Arnavji. How dare she accuse her husband? Not able to control herself she slapped Payal tightly.

Khusi with anger evident in her voice: "Don't you dare. Don't you dare to talk ill about my husband. You can never understand a person with a golden heart like him. And the purity of our relation is out of your imagination."

Payal has literally frozen because of the slap but coming out of the shock said: "HOW DARE YOU BITCH?? HOW COULD YOU..."

Her words stayed in her mouth when she heard someone shout: "PAAYAAALL!!!"

P.S. Sorry for updating this late. Thanks for reading and commenting. Silent readers please do comment.