Chapter 23

[MEMBERSONLY]

PART - 19

Next morning during breakfast, Arnav and Akash were discussing certain things about work when Anjali said: "Chote, will you drop me today. I need to go out."

Arnav knew she wanted to go to Nirmala Aunty's place so he nodded and said: "Sure Di, I and Akash will be leaving soon. So you get ready, we will drop you in our way to Agra."

Nani: "You two are going to Agra? When will you return?"

Akash: "Dadi, AR is applying for a very big project. There is an important meeting regarding that in Agra. So Bhai and I are going there... (looking at Anjali) ...Where do you want to go Di?"

Anjali in a very pleased tone: "Somewhere important Akash..."

Last night she had not slept a bit thinking about the girl, her innocent face, her tears, the way she cried hugging her, her fear, her sorrow everything had worried her. She had wanted to rush to the girl leaving everything behind; but one thing she had failed to understand why she was worrying so much for the girl. May be because she has face a lot in such a tender age or may be because she could feel her pain or maybe she doesn't know the reason herself. But that girl had given rise to feelings which she had solely kept for her Chote and now for the baby in her womb. Thinking about the girl she had a painful smile on her face when Mami interrupted her thoughts.

Mami: "But Anjali Bitiya, what about Damadji?"

Anjali: "Mami, I have given him breakfast and medicine. He will be sleeping under the effect of medicine... I will be back before lunch time."

Arnav: "Di... It will be better if you go with NK, so you will have no problem while coming back also... And he will help you in some work too..."

NK: "What work?"

Anjali: "NK Bhai... We will be going to... (But saw Khusi coming with the dishes, so she diverted the topic) ... you will know when we reach there. I will explain everything to you on way. Nani, Mami, I will let you all know when I return back... ...Chote, I need to talk to you about something important when you comeback."

Arnav: "Say now Di..."

Anjali: "Not now. We will talk when you are back... (Noticing the concerned look on his face added) ...Nothing to worry... Okay."

Akash: "Di... you are doing some work? What is the need? You are pregnant and need to rest..."

Anjali: "Akash relax... I am not doing any hard labor work. I like what I am going to do... In fact I want to do it, not for others but for myself..."

Akash: "But Di..."

Anjali: "Chote, will explain you what I am doing and why I am doing. Is that okay now?"

Payal trying to show that she cares for Anjali said: "Di, what is the need to do any work at all... You don't need to work for money..."

Anjali: "Payalji, every work is not done for money... There is something called self satisfaction and happiness. I am doing this work for this, not for money... When I will finally complete this work, the smile on the face of my loved ones will be my prized possession which can't be bought with any amount of money."

Payal: "Sorry Di... I didn't mean that..."

Mamaji: "Arnav bitwa... when are you two returning back from Agra? I need to discuss something with you two."

Arnav: "We may be late... but you can tell me now."

Mamaji: "Amma and me were planning for a reception party for your and Akash bitwa's marriage... your marriage happened in such a situation... but we need to give a reception party..."

Arnav: "Not now Mamaji... may be after a month or so... I will be very busy these days... Lots of important deals need to be taken care of..."

Nani: "But Chote..."

Akash: "Bhai is right Dadi. There is lot of work in office... the party can wait for some time and Bhai have to travel to Paris for Paris Fashion week for a couple of days..."

Anjali: "You are going to Paris chote... (grinning) ...that's perfect... you can have your honeymoon then."

Arnav: "What the!! Di, I have to go for work..."

Nani "So what... take your wife with you... ...I am sure you can find some quality time for her."

Arnav: "But Nani..."

Mamaji: "Anjali bitiya is right... today itself I will ask Aman for your schedule and ask him to book tickets for Khusi Bitiya."

Khusi who was blushing in the mention of their honeymoon remembered that she has to go and meet Dadiji and said: "Naniji, a very good friend of mine is in hospital... can I go to meet her?"

Nani: "Of course Bitiya, you should go there. Your friend will feel good."

Khusi: "Naniji, I was thinking of taking some home cooked food for her..."

Mami: "Take take... but the food should be healthy and nutritious... not oily and spicy... take some of your special jalebis too..."

Khusi: "Ji... Mamiji..."

Anjali: "Haan Khusiji... make some jalebis and take for your friend... seems like everyone is in love with your jalebis..." she looked at Arnav and winked reminding him how he bought lots of jalebis for the people at Nirmala Aunty's home saying that they all love jalebis made by Khusi. But here too her thoughts diverted to the girl remembering how longingly she had looked at her when she by her own hands had fed the girl jalebis and lunch.

Arnav: "Khusi, will the hospital people allow your friend to have those foods? It may hamper her health." he asked knowing very well that her friend is none other than his Dadi.

Khusi: "Arnavji, She is bored eating the hospital food. But you don't worry; I will ask the doctor before making her eat... I don't want her to fall sick..."

Nani: "Chote, hospital mein ghar ka khana bohot acha lagta hai. Thoda sa khana kuch kharab nehi karega."

Arnav: "Okay... Akash we need to leave now... I will change and come..."

Akash: "Sure bhai... I will be ready by then..."

Arnav: "Khusi come with me, I need some help..." saying that he left with Akash soon following him.

Anjali whispering to Khusi: "Khusiji... lagta hai, aapke Arnavji ka koi kaam aapke bager hota hi nehi hai..." Khusi went red while Anjali smiled and continued: "Go Khusiji, Chote will be waiting..."

Khusi blushingly left from there and Payal said: "I will go and see if Akashji needs anything."

Mami: "I don't think my Akash Bitwa needs any help of yours."

Mamaji: "Chup raho Manorama... you go Payal."

Anjali: "NK Bhai, I will see if Shyamji needs anything... After that we will leave..."

NK: "I am ready Di..."

Arnav-Khusi's room

Khusi: "Arnavji, you didn't tell me that you are going to Agra today."

Arnav: "Sorry... I thought to tell you in the morning... but when I came back from jogging, you were already in the kitchen..."

Khusi: "When will you come back?"

Arnav: "Meeting will be probably over by evening. Will try to reach soon..."

Khusi: "Drive carefully... no need to hurry okay."

Though Arnav stays in office the whole day and returns at night but today he will be out of Delhi, away from Khusi and it didn't go well with him. He hugged her and said: "I will miss you..."

Khusi: "Me too... (moving away from the hug and removing his hands from her waist in a painful voice said) ...you are going to Paris and didn't even inform me?"

Arnav: "Actually Khusi..."

Khusi: "You were planning to leave me alone and go... how could you do this?"

Arnav: "Khusi... I have already booked your tickets. Wanted to give a surprise to you but Akash spoiled everything..."

Khusi: "But you said downstairs that you don't want me to come?"

Arnav: "I didn't say that... I just said I am going for work... and I know my family; they will force me to take you with me...if I would have said that I want you to go then might be mami would have said anything in objection but now that Nani has said that you will go, mami won't object."

Khusi suddenly remembering something: "But Arnavji... what about Dadiji? How can we go leaving her alone?"

Arnav: "Khusi we will be away for a couple of days... Dadi will be fine... today when you meet Dadi, tell her that her chote misses her a lot..."

Khusi: "I wish Dadiji gets well soon..."

Arnav: "Hmm... can you take out a suit of mine... I will use the bathroom and come..."

Akash-Payal's room

Payal came in with a smile on her face and said: "Akashji, do you need anything?"

Akash: "Nothing much... Can you put my laptop in my bag? I need to take it."

Payal nodded and putting the laptop in bag said: "When will you be returning Akashji? You didn't tell me before that you are going to Agra today?"

Akash: "Sorry Payalji, I forgot in this work pressure... there was so much of work to do last night that it skipped my mind to inform you about my today's trip."

Payal: "It is okay Akashji... isn't strange that you were working so much yesterday and Arnavji was out the whole day with Di, instead of working at office?"

Akash giving a strange look to Payal: "What are you saying Payalji? Bhai took Di for her regular check-up. Di is more important than anything else. And don't say that Bhai is making me work while he is relaxing. He was at office the whole day. He works twice hard than I do. I don't like anyone talking against Bhai."

Payal trying to do damage control: "No No Akashji, you are getting me wrong. Last night when Arnavji and Di came back, Di told that she was with Arnavji the whole day... I thought..."

Akash: "You are thinking so much Payalji. Yesterday Di had gone to see one of her friends."

Payal: "Oh... When will you be returning back?"

Akash: "Meeting will be over by evening... probably will return after dinner."

Payal: "Okay... I will be waiting..."

Akash nodded smilingly and said: "Do you need anything from Agra?"

Payal: "I... well... can you get some pethas? I love eating them... In childhood whenever Babuji would go to Agra, he would get a lot for me."

Akash: "Sure, I will get them. Even Dadi loves the pethas of Agra. I am sure enough Khusi Bhabi would love to eat them too..."

Payal mood changed listening to the name of Khusi but controlling herself she said: "You should get going. Arnavji would be waiting for you... Even I have a lot of work to do. Khusi will be out the whole day to meet her friend. I will have to cook the entire lunch myself."

Akash: "Payalji, I don't want to be rude. But I need to know, why are you complaining so much about work? All you need to do is supervise the work. HP and OP are there to do everything... Khusi bhabi prepared the entire breakfast herself but didn't complain. Then why are you... are you feeling off color or something?"

Payal: "You are getting me wrong Akashji..."

Akash: "I am not getting anything wrong. I can feel my family's cold behaviour towards you. I agree you were never ma's choice as my wife or daughter-in-law of this house; she taunted you, scolded you but never ignored you like she is doing now. Dadi, Papa and Di were always supportive of you. But they too... and Bhabi your sister too doesn't seem to be in good terms with you... Have you done something which has irked them all?"

Payal: "Akashji... What are you saying?"

Akash: "You know very well what I am saying. Even yesterday, in the kitchen you were shouting at Bhabi. She sarcastically told me that you had forgotten your designation. What does that mean?"

Payal: "Akashji, you know Khusi she is crazy..."

Akash: "She-is-not-crazy. She-is-a-perfect-wife-and-a-perfect-bahu. Listen Payalji; let me get one thing clear. If you have done anything wrong get it rectified. I had gone against my mother to get married to you because I loved you and wanted you as my wife. I had promised Ma that you will be a great daughter-in-law and I wish you to become one. If my family is upset then I won't be happy either... I am going now, by the time I am back, I hope you to sort out all your differences with family. BYE."

In Arshi's room

Arnav broke the kiss and touching his forehead with Khusi said: "I will miss you the whole day... Why don't you come with me? You can visit Taj Mahal, while I work..."

Khusi smiled and said: "I can't go with you. I need to meet Dadiji... I am feeling sick thinking about Dadiji in the asylum."

Arnav: "I understand Khusi... Had I known Dadi would laugh so heartedly after meeting you, I would have taken you to her long back and probably by now she would have been here with us..."

Khusi: "I am always praying to devimaiyaa for Dadiji... I want her to be with us soon. Everything is feeling so void without her... Once she is here, our family will be complete."

Arnav: "Hmm... Khusi after meeting Dadi come back straight to home. Okay..."

Khusi: "Where else would I go? I will come back home only."

Arnav: "Khusi... there is something important for you to know... (Getting a nod from Khusi he continued) ...I have hired a private detective to get information about Shyam. He has asked for a month's time. It is also good that he is bed ridden at the moment and most of the time is sleeping due to the effect of medicines. I want him to out of my Di's life soon."

Khusi hugged him and resting her head on his shoulders said: "Arnavji, Di will be alright, hai na? She will believe us, won't she?"

Arnav tightening his hold on her said: "I just hope she does... The moment the detective gives me the report, I will show it to Di and throw that leach out of this house and our lives."

Khusi: "We need to be patient Arnavji. Di is pregnant now. She shouldn't be taking stress. It won't be good for her nor the baby. We need to make Di mentally prepared to face the truth about her husband... we can't risk Di and baby."

Arnav: "I understand... that is why I had taken Di out yesterday... Don't worry she will be fine. I know my Di... (Moving out of the hug) ...I need to go now. Akash will be waiting... ...Do you need anything from Agra?"

Khusi: "Nothing... only you... come back soon."

Arnav smiled and kissing Khusi on her cheeks left.

In Kitchen

When Khusi came to the kitchen to cook food for Dadi, Anjali was already there packing food in large tiffin carriers and something in a small box.

Khusi: "Di, What are you doing?"

Anjali: "Nothing much Khusiji, I am taking some Kheer."

Khusi: "For whom? You made Kheer but didn't make us taste also."

Anjali: "No Khusiji, I didn't make any. It was Hari Prakashji who made it. I made a small amount of Badam Kheer. There is still some left for Chote, will give it to him, when he comes back. You know Badam Kheer with kesar is his favourite."

Khusi: "But where are you taking these?"

Anjali: "Will you mind if I don't tell you?"

Khusi: "Ne...Nehhi... But still..."

Anjali: "Don't worry Khusiji... I will tell you the truth soon, but don't ask anything now."

Khusi: "Okay... but Di, you yourself once told me that you make Badam kheer only for Arnavji, and now for whom are you taking it?"

Anjali seemed uncomfortable at this question. She had taken special care while making this badam kheer not for her chote, but for the girl whom she had met only a day before, seems like that she has entered her heart without her own knowledge. Khusi looked at Anjali's lost face and said: "Kya hua Di?"

Anjali still in the state: "Khusij, what do you call the relation, where you meet a person for the first time and only for a brief period but still keep on thinking about her. You are away physically but mentally very close. Whatever you do, you thoughts divert to that person even when your most loved ones are with you? Why do you feel that the person is calling you, though you know that it is just your imagination?"

Khusi: "Di... What are you saying??? I am not getting anything..."

Anjali: "Tell me Khusiji, what is this relation called?"

Khusi: "I... I... don't know Di..."

Anjali: "Even I don't know Khusiji (wiping a tear drop that has formed in her eyes) ...yesterday I met someone and that someone is all over my thoughts Khusiji... today I made kheer for her, which I make only for my chote... my husband is not well, still I want to go away from him only for a glimpse of her... I think that she is calling me but the truth is that I am worried for her, I am longing for her... I want to be with her 24*7 Khusiji... And why? I myself don't know..."

Khusi: "Di... Who is she?"

Anjali: "Woohh..." NK's voice from the living room calling Anjali to come soon stopped their conversation. "We will talk later Khusiji... (Turning to HP) ...Hari Prakashji, keep those boxes in the car... Bye Khusiji... convey my wishes to you friend and say that I have wished her a quick recovery."

Khusi: "Ji Di."

Anjali walked out of the kitchen leaving behind a confused Khusi.