Chapter 19
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OS 2: Finding Khushi
"Tan.. ta nan..ta nan..ta nan..ta.. nan..ta..nan..ta nan..ta.. nan...", Mami sang her detective tune as she came down the stairs, her pair of binoculars hanging around her neck. She was in full Baand mood, the pink goggles, the binoculars, and her green & yellow Benarsi sari making her look a spectacle.
"Maasi, what are you doing? Why are you wearing a pair of binoculars?", NK asked, scratching his head.
"Err..woh..NK Bitwaa, I bant (want) to see the sagai in jhoom (zoom) vijjon (vision).", Mami found an excuse.
NK stared at her.
Akash, NK, & Arnav, all dressed in dark blue-black sherwanis & formals, stood in the passage leading to the front door, inviting guests in.
Akash peered over NK's shoulder to see if Payalji had come for the function, and Arnav peeked over Akash's shoulder to see if Khushi had come. He had sent 2 cars to pick them up.
Every sense went into high alert mode as he saw Buaji at the door, pushing Babuji in his wheelchair. Amma in an orange saree, with the pallu draped over her head came next, leading a shy Payal in a red & green lehenga.
Arnav heard Akash's breath leave him in a whoosh, but he had no time to spare for him. He looked at the entrance. Where was Khushi?
She came in, slowly, reluctantly stepping into the house she had wanted to avoid at all cost. She was in a blue lehenga, with a pink & blue dupatta decorously pleated and pinned to cover her bosom & midriff.
Her hair was plaited, and jasmine flowers and pearls adorned it. She held a small bag in her hand, and stood at the fringes of the crowd, not seeking anybody's attention. Arnav stood staring at her, unable to take his eyes off her.
"Nannav, mere Bhai! Is it time for dinner? I am feeling very hungry!", said NK, rubbing his stomach.
Arnav heard & saw nothing except Khushi.
Nani, Di, Mamaji, & Mami welcomed the Guptas into their home. They hugged each other, and the Raizada ladies & Mamaji blessed Payal.
Buaji stared at Mami's binoculars.
"Woh.. woh.. I want to see the sagai clearly!", Mami explained.
Buaji frowned. Was Payaliyaa's Sassumma mad?
"And it ijj the latest phasion!", Mami declared.
"Hai Re Nandkisore!", Buaji whispered, smiling at Mami's ridiculous getup.
Nani & Di latched on to Khushi.
"Khussi Bitiyaa!", Nani exclaimed, hugging her. Khushi smiled slightly at the elderly lady who had shown her nothing but kindness.
"Khushiji!", Anjaliji hugged her. Khushi smiled. "Come in! You know the way."
Khushi nodded. Where was the Rakshas? It would be too much to hope that he would leave his home and go to the Himalayas to meditate just because she didn't want to see him. And that too on his brother's sagai! Khushi sighed.
She watched Nani & Di teasing Jiji about how eager Akash was to see her, and smiled slightly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the lean & straight figure of Arnav Singh Raizada standing next to Akashji & another man.
Khushi, remember what you decided to do. Blind, deaf, & dumb, she told herself.
She deliberately turned her head away to see Mami staring at her through the binoculars. What was wrong with Mamiji? Had disappointment over her son's undesirable alliance turned her mad?
Arnav frowned. Why was Khushi not looking at him?
He felt somebody's eyes on him. His Mami was staring at him through the binoculars.
"What the!" left his lips.
Akash pulled Arnav & NK to join the crowd.
After greeting Buaji, Amma, Babuji, & Payal, Arnav introduced NK to them.
"This is NK, our cousin bhai from Australia."
All smiled at NK.
"NK, this is Payal's Amma & Babuji.", Arnav introduced them.
NK folded his hands politely.
"Jeeyat raho, babua!", Amma blessed him. Babuji nodded. NK frowned. Wasn't he alive?
"This is Payal's Buaji.", Arnav said. His eyes were on Khushi. Khushi looked elsewhere.
"Hai re Nandkisore, you have come all the way from Australia to attend your brother's marriage!", Buaji exclaimed.
"How did you know that my name is Nand Kisore, Buaji?", NK asked, astonished.
All laughed.
"This is Payal.", Arnav said, looking at Khushi. She was fiddling with the fringes of her dupatta.
"I know. I know. Akash's ankletji!", NK smiled and moved to hug her, but Arnav caught hold of his arm.
"Akash will hug her when the time comes. You find some body else to hug.", Arnav whispered in his ear.
NK nodded.
"And this is Khushi, Payal's sister.", Arnav introduced her, trying to meet her eyes.
Khushi smiled at NK, folding her hands in greeting. She totally ignored Arnav.
"Is your sagai over?", asked NK.
Khushi stared at him, and said, "No."
NK beamed. "My sagai too is not over." He turned to Arnav and asked him, "Can I hug her, Nannav?"
Khushi burst out laughing as Arnav fumed. NK looked at both of them, perplexed, wondering what he had said to infuriate Nannav.
Anjali had arranged a pooja before the sagai. All the family members and the guests sat on mats laid on the floor, waiting for the priest to start the pooja.
Akash and Payal were seated near the havan kund. Amma sat near Babuji's wheelchair. Feeling Arnavji coming close to her, Khushi darted between the guests, and sat down beside Buaji.
"Kaa hua, Titliyaa?", Buaji asked. "Why are you panting as though you have run a mile?"
"Nothing, Buaji.", smiled Khushi, scooting closer to her.
Arnav sat down behind her, watching her with hooded eyes.
What was he doing here? He didn't believe in God. What was he doing at a pooja? Just her luck! Khushi tried to calm her choppy breath.
Mami, Di, & Nani watched Arnav & Khushi with eagle eyes.
"Chotey! You are going to join us for the pooja?", Anjali asked, hiding a smile.
Arnav fidgeted. "You may need something... I should be here.. Akash may need help."
"That is so considerate of you, Chotey!", Nani laughed.
Arnav looked at the back of Khushi's choli. The low neck, the dori, the creamy skin... the fresh flowers in her long hair' their sweet fragrance...
Khushi turned to listen to something her Buaji said.
Her heavy earring... he hoped it didn't hurt her ear. The tie of her choker, the curve of her neck'. He memorised every line of her body that he could see...
Khushi squirmed. Why was he staring at her back? It felt as though he were untying her dori and running his fingers over her bare skin.. She shuddered.
NK sat down by Arnav.
"Khushiji!", he called.
Khushi turned her head, trying her best not to look at Arnavji.
"With you here, bahut moza aayegaa at this sagai."
Khushi looked at his feet. What had socks got to do with sagai? Then she caught on. Laughing, she said, "Maza, not moza."
"Maza, maza...", NK repeated to be certain.
Both of them giggled like a pair of kids. Arnav stared at them, seeing all his plans toppling over like a ton of bricks.
"I will call you Nanheji!", Khushi declared.
"You can call me anything you want, Khushiji!", NK said, smiling.
Nannav grit his teeth.
The pooja was finally over and the prasad distributed by Anjaliji. Soon it would be time for the sagai.
Khushi looked at the kitchen with longing in her eyes. She badly wanted a glass of water. She was parched.
She looked for Hari Prakashji. She saw him arranging chairs to seat the guests. It was no use calling him!
But how could she go to the kitchen? What if the Rakshas followed her?
Maybe she could take Nanheji with her. She looked around for him. He was nowhere to be seen.
She looked at Arnavji. He was standing with his face turned away from her, talking to some men in suits. This was her chance. She may not get another opportunity.
She darted into the kitchen.
There was no one there. Khushi heaved a great sigh of relief. For a few seconds, she could let go of her facade, her tension, her pretense...
She drew a glass of water from the pot, brought it to her lips, and drank deeply. She filled the next glass and drank half of it before she felt someone standing behind her.
Maybe Hari Prakashji had come in... She turned towards him with a smile to stand petrified.
Arnav Singh Raizada was standing behind her, his eyes burning into hers.
Her hand with the glass of water trembled.
He caught it, his fingers curling over hers to steady them. He brought the glass to his lips and sipped.
She tried to pull it back. The glass had been used by her' he should use a fresh one... But his fingers pulled her hand closer to his lips, and he drank all the water in the glass.
Khushi swallowed.
"What are you up to, Khushi?", he asked, his husky voice raking over her nerves like nails on a black board.
She frowned. Had he noticed that she was avoiding him?
"Are you trying to make me jealous?", Arnav bit out.
Khushi frowned at his preposterous question.
Forgetting that she had decided to be blind, deaf, & dumb, she opened her mouth to blast him.
They heard someone come into the kitchen.
Both of them stiffened. As Khushi tried to leave, Arnav caught hold of her arm and pulled her into the store room, closing the door behind them.
"What the!", Khushi exclaimed.
Arnav placed his finger on her lips to silence her. In the dim light, they looked at each other.
He slowly withdrew his finger from her lips, taking the chance to caress the plump curves. Khushi jerked away.
Arnav peeped into the kitchen.
Mami stood looking around, her binoculars in hand.
"Bhere did they go?, she asked herself. She looked in the cabinets, behind the stove, in between the bins placed on the cooking platform, in the basket of vegetables waiting to be cooked...
"Bhere ever you go, you cannot escape Manorama Baand!", she said, firing an imaginary pistol, and blowing the residue from her fingers.
Mami turned to look at Laxmi who was chewing a bunch of palak from the basket.
"Did you see them, you chewer of palak?"
Laxmi bleated.
Mami snorted, and left the kitchen, walking her billi walk.
Arnav looked at Khushi. She gulped.
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