Chapter 15
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OS 2: Finding Khushi
Part 9
Khushi walked home in the dark after a hectic day entering data about cereals and their purchase and supply. Her head ached. How many kinds of dal could man eat?
Rubbing the back of her neck, Khushi walked on, lightly kicking a few dry leaves flying on to her path in the wind.
The skin of her neck pricked. She rubbed it, frowning. How could he be anywhere here? He would be either at his home or the office, barking into his phone at poor Amanji.
"Khushiji! Finished your work only now?", asked a cheerful Happy Singh.
"Ji." Khushi made an effort to smile at the kindly man.
Behind him were two familiar cars, parked in the empty space adjoining his garage. Did they belong to...?
Khushi chided herself. Why should his cars be here? Khushi, Khushi..., she told herself. Get a grip over yourself. Clinging to his coat at night, seeing him everywhere, hearing his voice... You have always been sanki. Now you are ripe for a bed in an asylum!
Khushi walked up the steps to her house. The door was partly closed, leaving only a small gap between the two flaps. She raised a hand to push it open.
The door opened before she could touch it, and Arnav Singh Raizada stood on the threshold to welcome her in.
Khushi hit her head with her hand.
Arnav Singh Raizada opening the door of her house for her! Next she would imagine him doing aarti for her and escorting her in!!!
Khushi smiled in derision at her own fertile and vivid imagination, and tried to enter her house by walking right through the apparition. And crashed into his chest.
She raised wide, shocked eyes to his amused ones.
"Kya hua, Khushi? Lost your eyesight along with your dimag?"
Khushi pursed her lips & pushed him away.
"What are you doing here?", she hissed.
"Just came for a visit.", Arnav said casually.
"When did the great Arnav Singh Raizada start visiting my Buaji's house in Laxmi Nagar for no reason?", she asked, a frown creasing her forehead.
"Don't frown. You will have wrinkles.", he said, hiding his glee.
"Hhmmmppfff", she snorted, and walked into the front room, pushing him aside.
And came to a sharp halt.
Nani, Di, Akashji, & Mamaji smiled at her. Mami grimaced.
"Khussi Bitiyaa!", Nani exclaimed, and got up to hug her thoroughly.
Anjali followed, cupping her face in her hands and complaining, "So you are too busy for us, are you?"
Akashji greeted her with a 'Namaste', and she greeted Mamaji politely.
"What happened, Khushiji? Why are you silent? Surprised you, didn't we?", Anjali trilled.
"You can say that!", Khushi murmured.
Arnav hid his smile.
"Titliyaa, get tea for all.", said Buaji.
"Ji, Buaji." Khushi escaped the room with alacrity.
Buaji & Amma followed her into the kitchen.
"They have come with a proposal for Payaliyaa!", Buaji muttered.
Khushi gasped. "Who is the boy?"
"Akash babua.", said Amma.
All 3 stared at each other.
"Why?", Khushi asked the question that was running through all their heads.
Buaji sighed. "Apparently he saw her in the market and liked her, Nandkisore."
"Akashji is very nice. Just like Jiji...", Khushi smiled at Buaji. And muttered under her breath, ...and not like his brother, the Rakshas Laad Governar!"
"Did you say something, Khushi?", Amma sked anxiously.
"No, Amma.", Khushi smiled. If this wedding took place, she would be tied to the Raizadas. Forever and forever. And if there was something longer than forever, then that too! Compulsory meetings at festivals and anniversaries, forced attendance at the numerous satsangs and the daily poojas that Anjaliji organised...! With the Rakshas smirking at her! Hai Re Nandkisore! Her life would be done for!
"I think Payaliyaa too likes him.", said Amma, a worried look on her face.
Khushi gulped. A vision of her freedom floating away danced through her head. Her heart and her hopes sank without a trace.
"But I don't think his mother likes this proposal very much, Titliyaa! What kind of a lady is she, Nandkisore?", Buaji asked.
Khushi sighed. To speak the truth or not?
If she told them about Mami's nasty, vindictive tongue and ambition for her only son, that would be the end of this proposal. The Guptas would never send Jiji into a house with a Saasumma who hated the very thought of her.
But if Jiji liked Akashji... And if Akashji liked Jiji... How could she shatter their dreams? Just because she did not want to step into RM?
Khushi smiled with great effort.
"Mamiji doesn't know Jiji. And Jiji doesn't know Mamiji. Maybe Mamiji will like her very much once they get to know each other.", Khushi said, crossing her fingers behind her back. "I will make tea."
Khushi stared into the pan of water on the stove.
She felt him come to stand by her.
She stared at the water, stubborn in her effort not to look at him.
"So now you will be a part of my family, Khushi Kumari Gupta!", he said softly, with satisfaction flooding his husky voice.
Khushi straightened her lips in fury. The boiling water had nothing on the anger bubbling inside her. Devi Maiyya was going to get an earful at night! And no jalebis this week!
"Now how will you go to Lucknow? Will you leave your Jiji behind and shift to another city?", he whispered.
Khushi dumped tea leaves into the boiling water, switched off the stove, and glared at him.
"Yes, we will be related. What a misfortune!", she said.
Arnav raised his innocent eyebrow.
"What shall I call my Jiji's Jetji? Jiju? Or Bhaiyya?", she asked with a venomous look as her hands deftly placed the cups on the tray.
"No! Not Bhaiyya! Or Jiju. That's Akash.", Arnav was quick to respond. "Call me Arnavji... as you used to call me before...", he murmured.
Khushi flicked her head in disdain, and lifted the tray to leave the kitchen.
Arnav took the tray from her, his hands touching hers and sending tingles up her arms. She stepped back to escape the fire. He then took it to the living room.
At dinner, Khushi looked at the faces around the table.
Buaji & Amma were happy for Jiji, but worried if she would be able to adjust to living in such a rich family and big house... Naniji & Anjaliji had done much to allay their fears, but... Now they would have to arrange the wedding at the earliest. Clothes... jewels... food... invitations...
Babuji was pleased that Jiji would get her heart's desire.
Jiji looked shy and lost in dreams, the food on her plate neglected.
Khushi sighed. She was dead! Shagun was over. The Raizadas had filled Jiji's lap with expensive clothes and jewellery, gifts, and what not. Next, it would be sagai. Then sangeet. Then mehendi. Then haldi. And, finally, shaadi. Then pag phera. Don't think it ends there, Khushi, she thought. With your luck, there will be another dozen rasams in which the sister of the bride had to smile at the brother of the groom!
Khushi rested her head on her arm. In her efforts to go away from him, she had ended up very close to him. Any closer, and she would be sitting on his lap! She hit her head. He Devi Maiyya! Why did this happen only to her?
Khushi got into bed to lie awake, worrying.
The sagai was to take place in 4 days' time. Just 4 days. And she would have to dress up and accompany her Jiji and family to RM. She grit her teeth. He would stand there and smirk at her. If only she could knock that superior smile off his face!
Anjali asked Nani & Mami, "Why did Chotey go to the kitchen?"
"I was thinking the same, Anjali Bitiyaa! He seemed to spend a lot of time there with Khushi Bitiyaa...", mused Nani.
"Hello Hi Bye Bye! My two bitwaa, go went, gone for 2 girls from chota phamily!!!", Mami lamented.
"Don't be sad, Manorama. They are both good girls."
Mami snorted. "They dalled their dore on my bitwaa. One came to work here and got the other one in through the doorwaa too!"
"Mami, don't say such things about Khushiji!"
Mami snorted.
"Anjali Bitiyaa, we need to watch them closely during sagai.", said Nani.
"Haan, Nani. Do you think that is why Chotey refused to marry Lavanyaji?"
"We will find out on the night of the sagai. Manorama, keep your sharp eyes on them.", Nani requested.
"Saasumma, Manorama Baand ijj at your serbice (service)!", Mami promised.
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