Chapter 27
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OS 2: Finding Khushi
Part 12
"Nani, we have to do something.", said Anjali, a worried look on her face.
"Haan, Anjali Bitiyaa! Chotey is very interested in her. He couldn't take his eyes off her all evening at the sagai!", replied Nani with a slight smile.
"Couldn't take hijj aiijj (eyes) aff (off) whom, Sasuumma? Me?", Mami asked.
Nani snorted. "Nobody can take his eyes off you, Manorama, when you are dressed up, but now I was talking of Khussi Bitiyaa!"
Mami frowned. "Yeh kaisen jaadu he? Magic, magic! Dono gaayab for so long? Hum dhoondath rehe, but couldn't get even a kulue (clue)!!!"
"What were you dhoonding, Masi?", came NK's cheerful voice.
"Err'oo kaa he, NK Bitwaa, hamre earring kho gaya. I was searching phor it.", Mami found an excuse.
Nani quickly jumped in to save the day. "Did you like the sagai, NK Bitwaa?"
"It was fantabulous, Naniji! And Akash was so shy!! More than Payalji!!" All laughed. "And Khushiji is so beautiful!"
Nani, Mami, & Anjali looked at each other.
Nani said quickly, "She is going to get engaged soon, NK Bitwaa. You better look elsewhere!"
"Aur naahin to kaa, Saasumma! My Kidney-returned bhanja! Looking at a dehati, kangal ladki!!!", Mami tried to dissuade NK from rocking their boatwaa.
"Kangal? What is wrong with Khushiji's bangles (kangan), Maasi?"
"Ee lio!" Manorama hit her head with her hand while Nani & Anjali hid their smiles.
"De-hati? Why should Khushiji give me an elephant?", NK scratched his head.
"Hello Hi Bye Bye!", Mami said faintly. Nani & Anjali burst out laughing.
"NK Bhai, Hari Prakashji has a new bag of chips for you. It is in the kitchen.", Anjali said.
"Really, Di? You are so sweet!" NK ambled to the kitchen.
As soon as he was out of hearing, Anjali said, "Chotey was looking at her, but she was trying to avoid him. Why?"
Nani paled. "I hope Chotey did not hurt her with his sarcastic tongue and his anger."
"Saasumma, she knows all about Lavanya Kasyap! Maybe that is why she is avoiding hamre Arnav Bitwaa!", Mami suggested.
Anjali said sadly, "Which girl will want to marry a boy who invites his girl friend to live in his house, declares his intention to marry her, and then changes his mind?"
"Don't be sad, Anjali Bitiyaa! Your Mami ijj here. We will have to chalao a chakar during the sangeet!"
Nani & Anjali nodded. "Time is running out, Manorama. We have just the sangeet, mehendi, haldi, & the shaadi left!"
"Let ujj (us) plan our forward movement, Saasumma!", declared Mami, and all 3 ladies put their heads together to devise a plan.
A while later, Anjali peeped into Arnav's garden. As usual, he was digging in some pot in a dark corner, totally lost in his thoughts.
She sneaked in, followed by Mami, & Nani. They occupied the chairs arranged around his laptop table, and sat back to discuss Khushi's future.
"She is so beautiful!", Anjali said loudly. Nani & Mami nodded.
Arnav looked up from his pot, curious.
"So sanskari!", Nani exclaimed.
"And sanki!", added Mami, lifting her feet on to the chair.
The ladies laughed. Arnav's hands stilled.
"I think, Nani, that soon she will be getting many proposals. Who will not want a wife like her?", Anjali remarked.
"Haan, Anjali Bitiyaa!", Nani sighed. "If she gets married to someone in Lucknow, we won't even get to see her once a year!"
"Saasumaa! Bhy borry when you have such a hatta katta bai (boy) in your haujj (house)?", Mami asked. "You goes ahead and propose, Saasumma! Let me see who dares to say 'No' to you!"
Arnav frowned. What the hell was brewing? He moved closer to them. Were they talking of Khushi?
Anjali pretended to see Arnav just then.
"Chotey! You are here! We didn't see you!", she said.
Nani & Mami nodded.
"But it is good that you are here, Chotey! We want to discuss something serious with you.", Nani said.
"With me?", Arnav asked. "About what?"
"About Khussi Bitiyaa!", Nani said.
All 3 ladies peered at his face. He tried to keep his face expressionless with great difficulty.
"What about her?", he asked, his voice husky.
"She is such a good girl. And we all love her. And now, after Akash's wedding, she is going to be our relation. So we were thinking that some boy from our family should marry her. Otherwise she will marry someone else and go to Lucknow.", Nani explained.
Arnav paled. Khushi would leave him and go away? If she agreed to marry someone else, he would lose her forever. No.. No' He had to keep her here, with him'.. whatever it took'..
"Lots of ladies were ghooring at her during the sagai, Arnav Bitwaa!", Mami added.
Anjali nodded. "Three ladies asked me who she was!"
Arnav ground his teeth. How dare the women look at her as a prospective daughter-in-law? She was his. Only his...
"So we were thinking, why should we give such a good girl to some other boy when we have her perfect match in our own house?", Nani said.
Arnav looked at her, tongue-tied.
"So what do you think, Chotey?", Anjali asked.
Arnav could feel his heart beat loudly in his chest, almost shouting her name aloud.
He took a deep breath, feeling as though he were standing at the edge of a cliff, and said, "If this is what you all wish'."
Nani, Mami, & Anjali looked at each other, unable to believe their ears'..
"Chotey!", Anjali could not control the tears filling her eyes. "You are sure?"
Arnav nodded, shy but not wanting them to know that he was shy.
Anjali got up and limped to him to hug him.
"Chotey, think about this properly. If you change your mind like you did with Ms. Kasyap'.", Nani warned him, her eyes serious.
"I am sure, Nani.", he said, his voice low but sure.
"Arnav Bitwa, bhen you decided not to marry Lavanya Kasyap, she went away with her bori bistar to London. She did not have a phamily to come and catch your throat. But Khushi'.", Mami warned him. "That too, with Akash Bitwaa and Payal's marriage'"
Arnav nodded. "I won't change my mind."
"If you change your mindwaa, let your Mami know early. I will make NK Bitwa marry her.", Mami said.
Nani & Anjali nodded. They warned Arnav, "He likes her very much."
Arnav clenched his fists. He had to exercise all his self-control to keep silent.
After a pregnant pause, he said, "What should we do now?"
"Take your proposal to the Guptas without delay.", said Nani.
"Or somebody else will push you to the sidewaa and win the race!", Mami warned.
Anjali hesitated. "We can take your proposal to the Guptas, Chotey. But they may not agree'."
Arnav looked at her with hurt eyes.
"Khushiji knows about Lavanyaji staying here''", Anjali whispered. Mami & Nani nodded.
"She has seen your anger and heard your abuses.", Nani did not mince words.
"She may not believes that you will marry her. After all, Lavanya Kasyap went to London with empty hands' after learning Maa ka dal & Papa ka dal'.. and drejjing (dressing) like a behenji phor you!", Mami reminded him.
Arnav looked down at his hands. His fingers were clenched, locked together.
"Remember, Chotey. Sitting by the pool, I had asked you if you were sure about bringing Lavanyaji home. If you had taken the decision with your heart '..?", Anjali reminded him. "Then, if you had let your heart win over your head for a moment, we wouldn't be in such a position today!"
Arnav swallowed to get rid of the bitter taste in his mouth.
"Khussi Bitiyaa has a big heart. Maybe she will forgive and forget. Let us try.", Nani said.
Mami, Anjali, & Arnav nodded.
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