Chapter 67
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[MEMBERSONLY]
[NOCOPY]
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Part 17
Girija Devi looked at a Khushi who was making jalebi. Her eyes were on the bubbling oil in a huge pan and her hands were busy making coils & coils of batter in the oil. Near her were big baskets of jalebis and vats of sugar syrup.
"How is the new girl?" Girija Devi asked Tiwariji.
"Hard working. And neat. And best of all, she does not speak much. Only when necessary." Tiwariji mumbled through his pan-filled mouth.
Girija Devi nodded, noticing the dark circles under Khushi's eyes.
"Don't expect her to stay long, Tiwari Chacha." she warned the irascible old man. "I have already sent word to Nathu Ram. He will join you after a month. His wife is much better now."
Tiwari looked at Girija Devi. "Aisan kaa?" he asked.
Girija Devi smiled. "It is a sin to keep a wife away from her husband, isn't it Tiwari Chacha? Especially when they love each other a lot?"
Tiwariji frowned. "Then what is she doing here, making jalebi for my children?"
"Something is wrong. Let me find out what that is. We will solve the problem." She reassured him.
"Hhmmppff..." Tiwariji, the brahmachari made his contempt for marriage & love-lorn couples clear.
Girija Devi chuckled.
Nandini hovered near the entrance to the kitchen.
Tiwariji looked at her with cold eyes. Girija Devi asked her, "Kya hua, Nandini?"
"Khushiji had left her phone in her room." Phones were not allowed in Tiwariji's kitchen. "It has been ringing continuously for the past 1 hour, Madam... If it is something important..." Nandini's voice trailed off.
"I am going to break your rule, Tiwari Chacha. My instinct tells me that we will get some information out of this." Girija Devi whispered to Tiwariji as she held her hand out for the phone. Nandini handed over the phone & left.
"You are going to eavesdrop on her phone conversation?" Tiwariji asked, scandalised.
"How else can I know what is going on?" Girija Devi laughed, her infectious laughter bringing a twinkle in Tiwariji's reluctant eyes.
"Pagli kahin ka!" Tiwariji exclaimed as he moved away to check on the rice. "You are worse than the children!"
"Acha? Don't think I don't know that you give small children peanut candy and jalebi through the small window at the corner, just as you used to give me when I was a child!"
"Hhmmmpppfff!" Tiwariji snorted.
Girija Devi checked the log. Naniji, Anjaliji, Jiji, Mami, Akash Jiju, Nanheji, Buaji... And lots of Arnavji's.
Were they her relations? If so, she had a big family. Then why was she here, leaving all of them behind?
"Khushi..." she called.
Khushi looked up, saw Girija Devi, reduced the flame of the stove, and stood up.
"Nandini said that your phone has been ringing continuously for the past one hour. It might be something important. Why don't you go to the store and call them back? Now." the matronly lady suggested.
Khushi looked anxiously at Tiwariji. He left the rice and took over her low stool in front of the jalebi pan, giving her silent permission to call home.
Khushi went to the store and checked her phone. She paled as she saw the names. Arnavji must have told them the truth.
She called home, and talked to all of them, one after the other.
Girija Devi sat on a low bench just outside the store room, a book of accounts in her hand, turning pages occasionally. Her full attention was on the conversation inside.
"Buaji, I am alright... I didn't know how to tell you..."
"Amma, I am happy... Don't worry about me..."
"Babuji, I am very happy... I didn't want to stay in Delhi..."
"Naniji, please don't apologise to me. You are so much older than me, and I... No, I am not angry... No, I am not upset..."
"Anjaliji, please don't cry... No, it is not because of you..."
"Jiji, I am fine. I am happy... Jiji, take care of Arnavji..."
"Mamiji, I am not angry with Arnavji. Yes, yes, we wil meet again..."
"Jiju, I am fine..."
"Nanheji, yes, I miss all of you too..."
Girija Deviji smiled.
When Khushi came out of the store room and took over her duty at the jalebi pan, Girija Devi sat by her on a stool.
"Is there an emergency at home, Khushi?" she asked.
"Err, no, Girija Deviji. They just wanted to know that I was safe." Khushi said softly, her eyes slightly red from her tears, a smile on her lips.
"I see. Do you have a big family?" the crafty lady asked.
"Ji. That is, my Amma, Babuji, & Buaji. My Jiji & Jiju. My Nani... that is Arnavji's Nani, Di, & Mami. He has 2 brothers, Akashji & Nanheji... that is Nandkisore. I call him Nanheji. My Jiji is married to Akashji." Khushi explained.
"Oh, the two sisters are married to two brothers!" Girija Devi commented lightly.
"Ji." Khushi tried to smile.
"Your parents have only two daughters, Khushi?" Girija Devi asked, shifting her weight on the stool.
"Ji...That is, my Jiji is not really my Jiji. My parents are dead. I call my aunt Amma now." Khushi explained.
"Oh, so you are an orphan."
"Ji."
"But how can you be an orphan when you have so many people who love you?" Girija Devi asked with a smile.
Part 16: 91262266 Part 18: 91273186
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