Chapter 14
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[MEMBERSONLY]
The Guptas heaved a sigh of relief.
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/3905807/arhi-ff-writers-thanks-giving-series-smitar
rulama 2014-02-06 09:43:04
[NOCOPY]
RECALLING ARNAV
Part 8
Section 1
It was time for dinner.
The two families gathered around the dinner table in the ancient building, the elders letting Payal and Khushi serve them. Nani sat in an armchair watching the others have their meal, knowing that once the meal was over they would have to dig in to their collective past and expose half-healed wounds.
Khushi was all smiles, laughing with Nanheji at his jokes as she placed the plates before the guests and passed dishes to them. The Guptas and the Raizadas watched her with sharp eyes, taking note of every glance she threw at Arnav and every word she spoke to him.
She placed roti on Arnav's plate and said, smiling, "Please have them."
As all watched, she moved easily to NK to serve him.
A moment later she poured water in to Arnav's glass and placed it close to his plate so that he could reach it comfortably.
She treated him as she would any guest under her Babuji's roof. She didn't seem to have any special memories of Arnav or any bouts of her memory returning due to his presence.
The Guptas heaved a sigh of relief.
But their sigh of relief was prematurely heaved.
As Payal passed her bowls of rabri to be served as dessert, Khushi served all but hesitated before placing the sweet before Arnav.
The air in the room seemed to still.
The audience watched with bated breath, one family eager to see a sign of Khushi's returning memory and the other family dreading it like a nightmare.
Arnav looked at Khushi's face. It carried hesitation, reluctance, confusion and utter bemusement.
She looked at him. And then looked at the bowl of creamy sweet.
As he watched, his heart in his mouth, she placed the glass bowl on the table but far away from him, almost out of his reach.
"That is rabri," Khushi told Arnav.
He nodded, his Adam's apple moving visibly as he swallowed hard.
"I... I don't know... I... maybe you don't like it... I..." Khushi couldn't express the irrational belief in her heart that he shouldn't have the sweet.
"I can't have it. I am diabetic," Arnav helped her out.
"Aww!" Khushi stared at him, her mouth open for a moment. "Shakkar ki bimari he aapko?"
"Yes," Arnav said.
Buaji started talking to Anjali, trying to distract herself and everyone from the disturbing scene they had just witnessed.
Payal tried to get Khushi to bed early so that the Guptas and the Raizadas could talk about the tragic events of Arnav & Anjali's childhood and Garima's role in them without fear of being overheard by the young girl who was in the eye of the storm.
"Jiji, I am not feeling sleepy," Khushi said. "Let's sit on the cot in the courtyard and look at the stars."
"Khushi..." Payal tried to protest.
"I will see to her. Payaliyaa, you clean the kitchen," Buaji stood up. "Titliyaa, remember what the doctor sahiba said? You are not to strain yourself. Aur waise bhi you have to get up early to go to your shop, Nandkisore. Chalo, Parmeswari."
Khushi stood up unwillingly and wished everyone a very good night's sleep. As she was about to leave the room, she turned to Arnav and said, "Arnavji, I have kept the bat to kill mosquitoes on your bed. You can wield it like a sword all night and vanquish your enemies."
All looked at Arnav and Khushi, unable to understand the implication of her statement.
Only Arnav knew. Images of the first night they had spent at Buaji's house in Laxmi Nagar flashed through his mind. Her memory was returning. Not completely, but like waves they were washing over her, making her aware of herself and others. He smiled weakly at her, whispering his thanks.
Buaji & Khushi left the room.
Arnav walked up to Khushi's room a little later to check if she had fallen asleep.
Khushi was in bed, her arms around a big pillow. She was half asleep. Buaji was sitting by her on the bed.
Khushi murmured sleepily, "Buaji, Jiji is back home. It is so nice, isn't it? Like the old days."
Buaji smiled. "Haan." She ran a kind hand over Khushi's hair.
"Buaji, why do all of them like me so much? I mean, Jiji's family?" A frown creased the smooth expanse of her forehead.
Buaji's eyes widened. Arnav stood at the door, feeling his heart clench in pain.
Buaji finally said, "Because they think you are very sweet. They don't know the real you. Only I know what a Sanka Devi you are, Nandkisore!"
"Sweet?" Khushi smiled. The word turned her mind to the diabetic jetji. "Poor Arnavji. He can't take sweets," Khushi commented, fighting to stay awake.
Buaji bit on her tongue. Arnav had to look away, moved beyond measure.
"Buaji, will I ever get my memory back?" Khushi asked, a yawn disrupting her query.
Buaji looked away to blink her tears away. "Why do you want to remember, Titliyaa?"
Khushi peered at her through sleep-laden lids.
"Nandkisore has showered kindness on you, Titliyaa. Let his blessings remain, protecting you," Buaji managed to say.
There was silence in the room for a few moments.
"Buaji, I fulfilled my promise," Khushi yawned.
"Your promise?" Buaji asked.
"I promised to bring you your Nandkisore. And Nanheji came to see you," Khushi smiled before falling asleep.
It was late at night. But the Guptas and the Raizadas were wide awake, both families dreading the discussion that was to happen.
Anjali passed her fingers in to Arnav's, giving him her unspoken support.
He began, "I should have asked you this when Dadi showed me a photo of you and my Papa and said that you were the 'other woman' who broke up our parents' marriage. But I didn't. I was too... too upset to... too shocked to..."
Garima nodded, a long sigh shuddering through her.
"What happened between you and my Papa?" Arnav asked.
Note:
monsi08 has started a Thanks Giving post for Smita. Do peep in. Here is the link.
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/3905807/arhi-ff-writers-thanks-giving-series-smitar
mankad98 kindly pm me your email ID once again.
Messages sent to the ID you have given is bouncing back!
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