Chapter 97
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[MEMBERSONLY]
[NOCOPY]
[NOCOPY]
(Thanx a million, Naughtymallu!)
FINDING KHUSHI
Part 23
Section 3
Buaji turned the page to the third picture.
It was a lazy summer afternoon, with a hot wind gently playing with dry leaves, blowing them from here to there. A leafy tree by a stream provided shade for the couple out on a picnic.
Khushi, in a clotted cream & silver sari, was sitting with her back resting against the smooth bark of the tree. Her unbound hair fell down her back in a silky wave, leaving a few strands over her right shoulder covered in a silver blouse.
Arnav, in a pale green kurta & white pyjamas, was lying with his head on her lap, his face turned up towards her, his eyes on her lovely face.
Khushi's right hand was on his chest, her fingers splayed over his heart. His left hand covered her slight fingers, holding her hand firmly against his heart. His right hand was on his washboard stomach.
Anamika smiled slightly, her eyes on the photo. You could almost hear the bees hum, hear the sound of the brook gurgling, feel the wind rustling the leaves and making the wildflowers in the meadow dance...
Arnav's love for Khushi, his need for the girl he was gazing at, his enjoyment in her company, his delight in her presence, his pleasure in the moment of togetherness was obvious even to the blind. The slight, tender smile on his lips and the light in his eyes spoke volumes...
But more devastating to the hordes of society women was the look on Khushi's face. The fingers of her left hand were curved protectively over his head of unruly hair, and her face was suffused with love for and pride in him. Was it the love of mother for her child? Or was it the love of a girl for her lover? Or was it a mix of both?
A mix, Anamika concluded. The combination of maternal & romantic love was, Anamika decided, deadly. Fatal to the hopes of the avaricious hordes... And irresistable to the lucky object of that love...
The picnic basket was open. A dish of ber lay untouched by it. A book lay, its pages open to the sky, on the brown picnic rug. Scooby had crawled on to the rug, and was peering into the picnic basket with hopeful eyes.
Anamika smiled thinking of an incident during the photoshoot.
Scooby had joined the couple on the rug without an invitation.
When Gaurav had tried to lure Scooby away from there, Ganesh had motioned him to let the puppy stay.
Anamika had whispered in Ganesh's ear, "If that mongrel you gifted Gaurav so much as looks at the clothes I designed for the shoot, I am going to skin it and you... alive."
Ganesh had chuckled silently, knowing how much she doted on the puppy.
"Anamikaji, this photo... I am feeling like going on a picnic now.", Anjali pouted. "How can a photo make me feel so?"
Anamika smiled.
"Arnavji looks so relaxed.", Payal commented, surprise writ large on her face.
Mami nodded. "Hamre Arnav Bitwaa looks like he neber (never) bants (wants) to get up from there. Saasumma, jaldi shaadi kar dio in dono ki."
Nani nodded, smiling. "I am ready, Manorama. Shall we have the marriage now, here? I am ready. But it is Chotey & Khussi Bitiyaa's decision to wait for 4 more months..."
All sighed.
Buaji ran her pudgy finger over Arnav's face in the picture.
"Arnav Bitwaa looks so handsome, Nandkisore!", Buaji exclaimed. "Green suits him, Garima."
Garima nodded.
"Anamikaji, did Khussi & Arnav Bitwaa see these photos?", she asked.
"I sent the magazine to ASR just before I brought it over here. He might take it to show Khushi.", she replied.
All smiled.
"It is time I left.", Anamika said, rising to leave.
"No, no, Nandkisore! Have lunch with us, Bitiyaa! I have made besan ki ladoo...", Buaji tried to stop her.
Nani, Mami, Payal, Garima, & Anjali joined the chorus.
But Anamika held firm. There was a pile of work waiting for her. She bid goodbye to all, and moved towards the door. All the ladies followed her.
Nani asked, "Anamikaji, do you live alone? Where is your family?"
"It is just my son and me.", Anamika said mildly, preparing to leave the house.
"Hai Re Nandkisore! You left the child alone? Why didn't you bring him here, Bitiyaa? Hum bhi usse zara dekh lete!", Buaji said wistfully.
All nodded.
Anamika lowered her head to hide her laughter.
"Gaurav is 21.", she said.
"Hein?", Mami was the first to respond. "Looking at your skin, it is impojjible to believe that you have a son who ijj 21! What soap do you ujje, Hello Hi Bye Bye? Santoor?"
Anamika smiled. His family must be driving ASR crazy! A fitting punishment for his arrogant ways, she thought. Now, with Khushi and the Guptas added to the list, ASR's life was taken care of. Anamika had to swallow hard to hide her glee.
She finally left the house, delayed many times by the hundred and odd things the Raizada and the Gupta ladies wanted to tell her.
As she walked out of the house towards her car, she was smiling and her fingers were pressing the buttons to call Ganesh.
He would die laughing!, she thought with pleasure as she let her driver seat her.
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