Chapter 12

"Coming, Jiji!"

She checked herself one last time in the mirror. Finally, she had been able to complete her dance and practise it thoroughly. Yet, she still felt a bit nervous. Kind of jumpy. And the stupid person who had organised the evening had put her number first? Why the hell would they do that to her only? It was apparently a last minute change. He Devi Maiyya! She just hoped she would not mess up.

"Khushi!"

"Aayii Jiji!" (Coming Jiji!)

Come on, Khushi Kumaari Gupta. It's showtime...

***

He smirked with an evil glint as they announced her number was coming up. There you go, Miss Gupta. That was for yesterday.

Arnav chuckled. This morning itself he had just finished dealing with a client on the phone when he had heard her talking to a relative. She had been complaining about how stressed she was because she had not had enough time to practise, but the event manager had been really nice to put her among the last items on her list. That statement had made his day.

So finally, he had found his way to avenge himself. Well, it was a really trivial matter, closing a window on one's face, but she had indeed hurt his pride. He had gone straight to Mrs Chhadda, the best event manager who his cousin had hired from Delhi and forced her to change her mind. It had not been a difficult task for him, he was Arnav Singh Raizada.

He knew it was a too petty punishment for having played with his male ego he possessed but he did expect her to make a mistake. The poor girl was so stressed. He had himself witnessed her reaction when Mrs Chhadda had announced her of the 'small' change, though from afar. The shock, mingled with anxiety, on her face had been enough to please him, but Arnav Singh Raizada was incorrigibly greedy for more.

He was sure she would mess up. The girl could not even lie properly, she could hardly walk straight, she could not even manage talking without stammering, although this applied to when he was there only. But dancing? Nah! She would not be able to. She would certainly mess up.

His nose flared as she appeared onstage, apprehension clear on her face.

That's it, Khushi Kumaari Gupta. It's payback time!

***

She faced the applauding crowd panting slightly. She had pulled it off perfectly! And she had been fearing a black out. A wide smile spread on her face as she curtseyed to her audience.

"Khusi! Idhar aa, teri nazar utaarni hai!" (Khushi! Come here, I have to remove the evil eyes from you!)

"Kya, Amma?" (What, Amma?)

"Chup! Hamaari titaliya itne ache se naachi, kissi ki to nazar lag gayi hogi!" (Shush! My butterfly danced so well, someone might have put an evil eye on her!)

"Amma! Aapko pata hai na, humein yeh pasand nahin hai. Aap apna haath aise humaare aage ghoomaati hain, to humein chakkar aata hai." (Amma! You know I hate this. When you move your hand round and roound, I get dizzy!)

"Chup-chaap khari reh, paagal ladki! Chakkar aaye, to aankh band karlena!" (Shut up and stand straight, foolish girl! If you get dizzy, close your eyes!)

Khushi pouted her lips in mock irritation, standing there. This little ceremony did not make her dizzy. In fact, she liked it. But she also loved to tease her Amma.

"Hogaya?" she demanded once Garima had finished whispering what the Payal-Tanishq-Khushi trio used to call 'Choomantar' when they were children. (Done?)

"Haan, baba! Ab jaake kapde badal aur jaldi vaapas aana." (Yes! Now go change and come back quickly!)

Khushi nodded obediently as a child would and skipped back to her room.

***

Arnav was dumbstruck. Not a single fault. She had not tripped. She had not forgotten a single step. She had not failed to smile at the audience. All sign of worry had dissipated from her face once the music had started.

Unbelievable! How the hell had she done that? Wasn't Khushi Kumaari Gupta clumsy around him? Then how had she managed to dance so gracefully right in front of a hall in Sheesh Mahal, a hall brimming with people, all the eyes fixed on her?

And why was it that despite having lost, there was this triumphant smile on his face?

Arnav paused on front of a mirror. What the hell?

Whatever! He erased his smile and brushed all thoughts concerning her at the far back of his mind.

But one thing was undeniable. The girl did have substance...

***

"Jiji? Kya hua? Humaara Laddoo itna ro kyun raha hain?" (Jiji? What happened? Why is my Laddoo crying so much?)

"Pata nahin kya hua hain isse..." (I don't know what happened to him...)

"Dijye, hum inhein shaant karaate hain. Aap jaaiye, Sangeet dekhiye." (Give him here, I'll make him calm down. You go, attend the Sangeet.)

"Tujhe nahin dekhna?" (And you?)

"Hum baad mein aayenge." (I'll come later.)

She took the toddler in her arms and cajoled him lovingly. "To Rajkumaar? Aap itne upset kyun hain? Maasi aayi hain na? Ab to chup ho jaiye!" (So, little prince? Why are you so upset? Maasi has come now, right? Stop crying!)

She walked off to the garden cooing gently at her nephew who had finally quietened when they had left the crowded area of the hotel. He was now preoccupied with the blood red crystals adorning her deep teal designer saree. She had actually fallen in love with this piece right when she had seen it. It was made of a flowing silk, of a dark teal colour, but when light fell on it, it also gave the illusion of a reddish purple. The border was embroidered with a coppery thread, encrusting the jewels of different sizes on the cloth; the anchal was full of the designs from the border.

Khushi wore no necklace, though she had opted for large copper jhumkas, with vine-like designs on them and deep turquoise beads hanging from them. A mixture of gold, dark red, copper and teal coloured bangles filled her hands and she had worn a little red bindi on her forehead. Her hair was loose, streaming lusciously down her back, which would be mostly exposed if not for her tresses as her choli was held simply by a knot. She wore simple make-up, knowing she looked good even without it.

She kissed the baby in her arms, without even realising she was being admired from afar...

***

He had always found parties boring. And this one was all music, songs and dance, which also held no importance for him. Well, the first presentation had captivated his attention, but he found the rest uninteresting.

He headed for the exit gradually, hoping not to catch anyone's attention. Arnav Singh Raizada preferred tranquillity. He would get that in the yards of his father's splendid hotel. He turned once to look back at the magnificence of the building with a dry smile. How many people every day come here and find this palace a beauty they could not have even dreamt of? And how many of them knew the truth behind it, the truth he had seen?

He sighed and walked away, far from this wretched place. He should not even have come here, in the first place...

Then, he saw her.

She was standing at a distance from him, her nephew in her arms, looking as beautiful as ever. Would this girl ever cease to amaze him? She was dazzling with beauty. She brought a tiny smile to his lips. She made him forget his miseries.

Khushi Kumaari Gupta was one person who could challenge him. An equal, he realised. Though she was a bit mad. Though she was a bit clumsy. Though she was a little liar. He chuckled as he remembered their previous encounters on London.

It would certainly be fun knowing Miss Gupta...