Chapter 20
Font:
Text Size:
Theme:
[NOCOPY]
RECALLING ARNAV - II
Part 21
Section 1
The Raizada ladies & NK left after partaking of a delicious and sumptuous lunch at the Guptas in Laxmi Nagar.
"We will be leaving tomorrow, Nandkisore," Buaji said, pulling NK's cheek. "When will I see you again?"
NK ran to the other corner of the room clutching his throbbing cheek that was as red as a tomato. Buaji's love was as hazardous to his health as her anger.
"Madhumatiji, let Khussi bitiyaa and Payal stay with you till evening," Nani said with a smile. "They can spend some time with you and help you pack."
"Yes, we give you our two bahuranis for the day," Mami declared. "But nightwaa aa jaaye to dono ko lauta deejiyega. Their hujjbands bill come doonding them, Hello hi Bye Bye!"
Khushi & Payal cleared the table, making quick work of the dishes.
"Khussi, you are happy, aren't you?" Garima asked.
"Yes, Amma," Khushi smiled. "But I want to work. I don't want to sit at home doing nothing."
Payal, Garima, Sasi & Madhumati looked at her in silence, wondering what was going though her head.
"Buaji, Satwik Mistaan Bhandaar is doing very well in Lucknow. As long as Munna and Krishna are there and you keep an eye on the shop, you will never need to worry about money again," Khushi said softly.
The Guptas nodded.
"I want to do something here that will make me financially independent," Khushi said with a smile.
"Will Arnav babua permit you to work, Nandkisore?" Buaji asked, a frown adorning her face.
"I don't need his permission, Buaji. Last time I gave up my life and my happiness so that he could be happy, his family could be safe. I gave freely without demanding. I gave in to his unreasonable demands, I changed myself to suit the circumstances so that no one in RM would be unhappy. I remained silent but my silence did not do anyone any good, Buaji. I should have reacted. I should have protested. I shouldn't have put up with Shyam's tricks or with Arnavji's ego. I won't do it again," Khushi said softly.
"Titliyaa," Buaji protested.
"I was very unhappy, Buaji. I was alone and scared. My life was totally out of my hands, Buaji. I don't want that to happen again," Khushi murmured.
As the others stared at her in silence, Sasi alone nodded.
"I... I did not... bring you up... to be... unhappy," he stuttered.
All stared at him.
"You have... the... right to be... happy. Your destiny should... be... in your hands... You... work, Khussi," Sasi said.
Khushi fell to her knees by his wheelchair and hugged him tight.
"What will you do, Khushi?" Payal asked.
"I don't know, Jiji. I will find something," Khushi smiled at her.
"Do you want to start a halwai shop here, Nandkisore?" Buaji asked. "What will people say? The wife of Arnav Singh Raizada rolling ladoos and sweating over halwa!" Buaji hit her forehead with her hand.
Khushi smiled wryly. "He knew that I am a halwai when he married me, Buaji. Nor did I sit in hartal outside his house begging him to marry me. He was the one who decided to marry me."
"Khussi!" Garima protested. "Don't shame Damadji with your nautanki any more."
"Amma, I can't become a doctor or an engineer with my 12th pass certificate. I can only do what I know to do. If Arnavji finds it embarrassing, I will not claim any relationship with him. I will work as Khushi Kumari Gupta. At least my father is not ashamed of me," Khushi said.
Sasi patted her hair. "Do what... makes... you happy," he said.
"Hmmppfff! A father and daughter like this, Nandkisore! She is getting ready to destroy her marriage and he is blessing her to do it!" Buaji hit her head.
"Let her work, Jiji," Garima said slowly. "When everything ended last time, our Khussi was left with nothing. We were there to take care of her then. If something goes wrong in the future and we are not alive..." her voice trailed away.
Buaji stared at Garima in silence, struck by her argument.
Khushi and Payal walked along the road in search of a rickshaw to go to RM. The hot sun beat down mercilessly on their heads.
Khushi turned her head to the left and the right, scanning the road for a free vehicle when her eyes fell on a construction site.
Payal saw her staring at the workers carrying bags of cement in to the site under the sharp eyes of a manager.
"Kya hua, Khushi?" she asked.
"Jiji, come with me. I need to talk to the site supervisor," Khushi said. She took hold of Payal's arm and walked in to the site.
"Khushi, what are you doing?" Payal asked, scandalised. "There are only men here and you are..." she protested.
"Men need to eat, Jiji," Khushi said softly.
Payal stared at her. What was this Sanka Devi up to?
"Manager Sir, I am Khushi Kumari Gupta. And this is my Jiji, Payal," she introduced herself to the site supervisor.
The man looked at them, harried.
"We don't employ women," he barked.
"I don't want you to," Khushi smiled. "Are your workers from Delhi?"
"Of course not. They are from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Why?" the man asked.
"What do they do about their lunch? Do they cook it here?" Khushi asked.
Payal stared at her in shock.
The man sighed. "No. They go to small tea shops and shacks during their break. The contractor had employed a cook for them, but he left after one week."
"I am going to start a business, Manager Sir. I am going to supply packed lunches to workers. Would you like to enter in to a contract with me?" she asked.
The man stared at her. "You? Have you done this before?"
Khushi smiled. "We are the daughters of Sasi Gupta, one of the best halwais in Lucknow. Cooking and selling food is our khandaani pesha," she claimed.
"You are willing to supply lunch six days a week for fifty-five men?" the man asked.
"Yes. As long as the terms are favourable," she said.
Payal stared at them as Khushi and the man discussed the dishes, the number of items, the cost, the timing, the mode of delivery etc.
"You get the contract ready, Mohanji. I will come and sign it. Please keep the advance amount ready too," Khushi said.
"What is the need for a contract?" Mohan asked. "Trust should be more important than a contract," he tried to sweet-talk the pretty girl.
Khushi's face became cold and her eyes sharp.
"My father and my husband, both of them are businessmen. I know the rules of the game," she claimed. "I will not supply a single lunch box till the contract is signed and the advance received," she said.
Mohan gave in. "Come tomorrow at ten. It will be ready."
"I will show the contract to a lawyer before I sign it," Khushi warned him.
"Yes," Mohan sighed.
"The advance?" Khushi clarified.
"That will be ready too," he agreed.
"Khushi, what are you going to do?" Payal asked, shocked.
"I am trying to live, Jiji," she said simply, "doing the only work I know how to do."
"Now where are you going?" Payal asked as Khushi flagged down a rickshaw.
"I am going to drop you at RM. Then I am going to meet Arnavji at his office," Khushi said cheerfully.
They sat in silence in the auto. A few moments later, Payal asked, "Khushi, how will you cook for fifty-five people on your own?"
"It has to be done, Jiji," Khushi smiled.
"Imagine the number of rotis you will have to make, the amount of rice! You don't have the vessels, you don't have the stove!" Payal stared at her.
"I will get them," Khushi said with unimpaired cheer.
She asked the rickshaw driver to stop at Shantivan and waited for Payal to alight.
"Are you sure, Khushi?" Payal asked.
"Yes, Jiji," Khushi smiled.
"Then I will help you. Jiji hoon teri. How can I watch you struggle?" poor Payal asked.
Khushi laughed. "I knew you would never let me do it alone. Aur sach batao, Jiji, doesn't it send a thrill down your spine to think that we are going to be cooking together like we did in Lucknow?"
Payal shook her head, unable to hide her smile and walked in to the house.
Your reaction
Nice
Awesome
Loved
LOL
OMG
Cry
Post Your Comment