Chapter 5
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[MEMBERSONLY]
rulama 2014-01-24 00:54:03
[NOCOPY]
RECALLING ARNAV
Part 3
Section 1
"Dadiji, I was thinking"if it is alright with all of you"that I will go to Lucknow for a week," Payal said softly.
Akash, who had already been consulted, smiled at her across the table.
ASR's spoon fell with a clatter on the table. All turned their eyes from the spoon and his pale face as though they had seen nothing.
"Jao, jao, Payaliyaa," Nani encouraged her. "Give my regards to Sasiji, Garimaji, Madhumatiji and Khussi bitiyaa," she said Khushi's name deliberately, trying to din in to her grandson's head that even though he was a fool, the rest of his family wasn't.
"Bring sweets from Lucknow for me, Payaliyaa, when you returns," Mami said. "Now your sister is the malkin of a sweetshop, asks her to sends me the best, Hello Hi Bye Bye!"
"Ji, Saasumma," Payal smiled slightly.
"I will miss you, Payalji. Aapke bina yeh ghar..." Anjali sighed. "But it is natural that you want to visit your family."
"Payal bhabi, get me a bride from Lucknow. Ek susheela, shanti, bharti-ya naari," NK smiled, his eyes twinkling with eagerness.
Mamaji chuckled. "Ye lo! Bitwaa, you want Susheela, Shanti, Bharti, and Naari or will one of them do?"
All guffawed.
Arnav alone stared at his plate, his mind lost in Khushi.
"Payal," he called.
Payal looked up at him, her wide eyes wary.
"When are you leaving?" he asked.
"Tomorrow, if it is alright with every one." Payal said.
"Let me know when you get to Lucknow." ASR instructed.
"Ji," Payal said. She hesitated. "Arnavji, I was wondering"has Khushi left anything here? I mean, clothes or jootis"if she has, I will take them with me," she offered timidly.
"No, she has left nothing," ASR lied. All he had of Khushi were a few clothes. And memories that ate in to his sleep. How could he let them go? What would he do if he lost them too? How would he live on?
Khushi stood, stirring the halwa mixture in the big vat, sweat dripping down her neck, back and legs as the fire raged bright under many huge vessels in the small enclosure behind the shed that housed Satwik Mishtan Bhandar.
"Khushi didi, the batter for making jalebis has been sitting long enough. Will you make them or shall I?" asked Munna.
Khushi hesitated. She looked at the orange mixture, feeling a strong reluctance to touch it.
"You make it, Munna. I don't want to make jalebi," she said.
Munna gasped. "Are you sure, didi?"
"Yes."
"Jalebi Express of Lucknow does not want to make jalebi?" Munna wondered, unable to believe his ears.
Khushi frowned. "I don't know why, Munna. But I feel that jalebis are such sad sweets."
Krishna set down the ladle. "Sad sweets? Sweets can be sad or happy?" This was knowledge for him.
"Yes. All coiled up, dripping sugar, orange colour. It is complicated, twisted, like the thoughts in my head. No more jalebis for me," Khushi declared, frowning at the batter.
Munna and Krishna looked at each other and nodded.
"Theek he, didi. I will make them. You scold the halwa and make it set properly in its thali. I will deal with the crooked jalebis." Munna teased her to make her smile.
"Yes, if you frown enough at the halwa, it will jump out of the vat, walk to the thali by itself, grease it, and lie down to set. Our terrorist Khushi didi is so scary," Krishna added.
Khushi giggled, pretending to shoot down the boys with an imaginary smoking gun, the worry vanishing as though it hadn't been.
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