Chapter 41
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OS 2: Finding Khushi
Part 15
Section 1
Khushi looked at Buaji & Amma anxiously.
They were packing the hundreds of things they wanted to take to RM for Jiji's mehendi function. Jiji was settling a shawl around Babuji's frail shoulders, before pushing the wheelchair to the cars that Arnavji had sent.
How to ask...? But how could she not...? His eyes... his smile... Khushi shut her eyes tight, prayed for courage, and ventured, "B..buaji...?"
"Haan, Titliyaa?" Buaji was counting the cones of mehendi.
"You go to RM. I will follow you... later..." There, it was done.
"Hein?", Buaji frowned.
"Munshiji needs my help in the morning. I will go there, help him, and then come to RM." Please... please... Devi Maiyya! Let Buaji agree...
"How long will you take, Sanka Devi?", Buaji asked, her hands on her hips.
"Maybe an hour, Buaji. I will be there by the time Jiji starts to apply the mehendi..." Khushi spoke, her mouth dry.
Buaji looked at Amma.
"It is your sister's mehendi function, Khussi. What will the Raizadas think if you don't reach there on time?", Amma asked, worried.
"I will be on time, Amma. I just need to go to the godown for some time, that's all..."
Reluctantly, Amma & Buaji nodded.
Munshiji looked at Khushi with wide eyes. She was dressed in a grand orange lehenga, and looked totally out of place in the dingy godown.
"Khushi Bitiyaa, you are on leave today. Why did you come to the office?", asked Munshiji fondly.
Khushi smiled wanly. "I thought I will enter a few pages of data before leaving, Munshiji!", she said. How could she explain about his burning eyes, her dhak dhak & acidity, the torture of his touch, the way in which he looked at her, his smile... Poor Munshiji would have a heart attack.
His radio played, Jhoot Bole Kauwwa Kaate...
Khushi glared at it, and ran to her laptop.
Arnav looked at the Guptas as they entered the house. Amma & Babuji, Buaji, Payal... Where was Khushi? He leaned forward for a glimpse of her. But...
NK asked what Arnav wanted to ask.
"Where is Khushiji, Buaji?"
Buaji smiled and pulled his cheek. "She had to go to her office. She will be here soon."
NK ran away, clutching his throbbing cheek.
"Bhai, shall we go down?", Akash asked.
Arnav nodded, distracted by Buaji's words.
"Maasi said we are not supposed to go down!", NK complained. "Boys are not supposed to attend the mehendi function."
Akash gasped. There went his plans to see Payal...
"It is so unfair, Nannav! Why should girls have all the fun?", NK asked.
Akash nodded.
"And Khushiji hasn't come yet. I wanted to watch her pehen a saree!", NK sighed.
Arnav & Akash gaped at him.
"What the!" Arnav clenched his fists.
"NK Bhai! What are you saying?", Akash's round eyes peered at NK through his specs.
"I wanted Khushiji to teach me how to pehen a saree so that we can dress like ladies and go down to see the mehendi!", NK clarified, not knowing how close he had been to swallowing his broken teeth.
Nani hugged Buaji and said, "Normally boys don't attend the mehendi, but we would like them to be here."
Anjali nodded. "Haan, Buaji."
"Our family is finally happy. Many bad memories of the past are being wiped away, slowly. It is time for us to enjoy life, Madhumatiji, and we don't want to keep the boys out of any of those happy moments...", Nani explained.
Buaji nodded. "We don't have any problem with the boys joining us, Devyaniji! The more the merrier, Nandkisore!"
Mami called out, "Arnav Bitwaa! Akash Bitwaa! NK Bitwaa! Come & sit with the girls here. Let ujj put mehendi on you! You bill look bootiphool!"
Arnav looked at the clock and at the crowd of giggling girls in his living room. Where was Khushi?
He had already phoned her 3 times, but she had not answered...
The girls had their heads buried in books with mehendi designs, and were pointing out pretty designs to NK who was having a whale of a time with them. Akash was joined at the hip to Payal, sitting as close to her as possible. Where was Khushi? He pulled his phone out again.
Her phone rang. 'Arnavji.' Khushi looked at the laptop screen with great concentration.
"Bitiyaa, your phone is ringing... again...", Munshiji said as he left the room with a cheque he needed to deposit in the bank.
"Ji...", Khushi smiled at him. Thank God Munshiji was leaving...
"Leave for the mehendi as soon as your work is done, Khushi. You don't have to wait for me to return."
"Ji...", Khushi sighed.
She had tried so hard! So hard to stay away from him. To ignore him. To avoid talking to him. But... she had failed. Each day had brought a new Arnavji to her, not a stern, angry, cruel man anymore, but a wounded and bleeding boy.
So difficult to ignore... to run away from...
It was easier to ignore that rude man. But now... And Jiji had to get married into that family? As though there weren't any other boy in all of Delhi!
Aaj phir neend ko aankhon se bichadte dekha...
Aaj phir yaad koi chot purani aayi...
Aaj phir yaad mohabbat ki kahani aayi... the radio sang.
She frowned at Devi Maiyya as she sat smiling on Khushi's table.
"Jalebi every week. Aarti everyday. And you can't even keep me out of his way!"
Devi Maiyyya smiled.
"Haan, you sit and smile. Aaram se! Here I am burning like the lamp lit in front of you, and you can't see that!"
Khushi crossed her arms on the table and buried her face in them.
What could she do? She had to attend the mehendi. There was no other way. Or Buaji would fry her instead of pooris that evening!
But.. but how to look at his face? How to hide her feelings from him? How to put up with her thudding heart and her shortness of breath?
"Khushi...", came the call.
Khushi jerked upright. Arnav Singh Raizada was standing in front of her.. all 6 feet and something of him present along with his coat, suit, & boots to eat into her peace of mind!
"Are you alright?" His face was a picture of anxiety.
How could she be alright when the very root of all her problems was standing right in front of her?
She sent a scathing glance at Devi Maiyya. I asked you to save me from him, and you sent him to me immediately. Wah! Wah! Dekhti hoon aapko!
Arnav strode to her, caught hold of her shoulders and lifted her free of the chair.
"You look pale. Khushi, what happened?"
Khushi tried to free herself. How could she not look pale? Any other girl in her place would have become pagal, totally, totally pagal, unable to face the onslaught of such... such... focused attention from Arnavji...
Arnav pulled her into his arms, and hugged her close to him.
"I was waiting for you at home, Khushi.", he whispered.
Khushi nodded, swallowing.
"The girls were ready to put on their mehendi. Only you were not there...", he said.
"Work... I..I had some work...", Khushi gasped.
"That is usually my excuse, Khushi..", he whispered. He dropped a kiss on her plump, warm cheek.
"I told everyone... about Papa... the past. Nani, Di, & Mami cried. It was like a cloud lifting away from our house, Khushi..."
She looked at him.
"Thank you." He kissed her forehead.
Khushi swallowed.
"I didn't do anything.", Khushi protested softly.
"You made me see the lack of logic in the events..." He kissed her nosepin. "made me search for Kusum Bhandari..." He kissed her eyes. "... made me find out the truth..." He kissed her chin. "... freed me from the past..." He kissed her cheek. "...returned my Papa to me..." He aimed for her lips.
Khushi jumped away.
"Mehendi... we have to go..", she stammered.
Mudatton baad chala unpe hamara jaadu...
Mudatton baad hamein baat banani aayi...
Arnav drove with Khushi by his side. He stole frequent glances at her. Khushi looked out through the window to avoid his eyes.
"Khushi..!", he called.
She had to look at him.
"You look beautiful! This colour..."
Khushi blushed. The words and the look in his eyes...
"When will you marry me?", he asked.
Khushi looked out through the window, the pulse in her throat beating madly like the wings of a bird in captivity.
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