Chapter 25

CHAPTER 22: Jiya Dhadak Jaaye😉

Next few days passed in silence between the couple, but not for others. Since it was a private ceremony without the media, no one knew about it. Sasi, Garima and Ashwin kept on asking her about her decision next morning and all they got was a silent glare before she walked in to get ready for office. But as soon as she was questioned again, she blasted!

Khushi: WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE INTERROGATING ME LIKE THIS? Did you people tell me anything that you are expecting answers from me now?

All gaped at her! Never once Khushi lost her cool. Looks like today was the day!

Sasi: Titaliya? We are just eager to know your answer.

Garima: We want you to be happy!

Ashwin: Why are you shouting at us for doing good?

Khushi: Sorry! But before you people get any hopes, I haven't given my consent to this marriage proposal! He is my BOSS for godsake!

Ashwin: How does that make a difference Jiji? He loves you.

Khushi: It does make a difference. Because I am a mere employee and he is an eye catch for any woman who would match his status or taste! And if I agree, there might be many talks and gossips like I have trapped him for money etc etc.

Garima: But Arnav bitwa knows you bitiya!

Sasi: And he will not care for the society.

Khushi: Yes! But I care. Will you people be able to shut your ears when you hear people talking all the nonsense about me? We are middle class people Bauji! And we must care about the society too.

Ashwin: This is all nonsense!

Khushi: I am not denying it completely. But I just want some time to think!

Now more than this, they could not say anything! She needed her space and they were ready to give her that! Sasi moved to his daughter and caressed her head lovingly.

Sasi: Take your time bitiya! But not lifetime because we don't get lucky every time.

And thus Khushi was free of their questionnaire. But she was not free of the DEVIL! Everytime they get in private, Arnav did something or the other to make her breathless! Either he will keep staring at her or he will tuck the free fringe of her hair sometimes he will follow her in the evening behind her scooty in his SUV until she reaches safely and the most ridiculous thing he did was standing outside her window at odd hours of night until Khushi comes and glares at him! She somehow knew that he was outside, even in her deep sleep!

It was two weeks since Arnav's proposal. Arnav and Khushi did not speak anything until then. Today was Friday and next two days Office was shut down for 2nd weekend of the month. When Khushi was wrapping up, Arnav came inside her cabin. Khushi looked up at him.

Arnav: Tomorrow do you have any plans?

Khushi: Hun?

Arnav: I asked you if you have any plans for tomorrow!

Khushi: Why do you bother?

Arnav: I asked you a question first! Well now that you don't find it necessary to answer, cancel all your plans as I am taking you out tomorrow!

Khushi: You cannot boss me like that!

Arnav: You don't leave me a choice Ms. Gupta!

Khushi: What the?

Arnav bit his cheeks inside to stop laughing. THe way she went all angry and puffed up face when he called her Ms. Gupta was admirable.

Arnav: What what the? When you behave like one hell of a honest employee, then I am not left with choice than bossing you like a devil of a boss as you think of me!

Khushi: When did I say that?

Arnav: Not you, but your sketches.. They say that I am dragon! Dracula, King kong! Demon! Devil and the list is endless!

Khushi: Arnavji!!!! That was long long ago! Its been nearly a year since!

Arnav: Same explanation can be given by me too Khushi! But sometimes some people tend to think that it is not applicable. Khair! Now get ready tomorrow. I am taking you out. This time I am not asking your parents as I already got my lesson for it. You do it for yourself and I AM NOT TAKING NO FOR AN ANSWER! Good night. Bye!

Khushi stood with her mouth and eyes open like saucers! How dare he. But then she called him back.

Khushi: Arnav ji?

Arnav: What?

Khushi: Will you come behind me like always in your lover?

Arnav: WHAT THE?

Khushi: Your White SUV!

• Arnav: Shut up Khushi! And why will I come behind you?

Khushi: Well you have been doing that for 2 weeks now and not to forget your late night expedition outside my window! So if you are planning the same today, then please save me the difficulty of waking up and glaring at you in the midnight! I will give you my best glare now so that you can go home and sleep and LET ME SLEEP!

Now it was Arnav's turn to stand with his mouth open! HE never expected Khushi to discuss this so openly! But as he absorbed her words, he started laughing holding his stomach!

Arnav: Khushi! You are mad. Do you know that? Do you think I do all this for your glare?

Khushi: Then why are you following me like a dog following drunk Devdas!

Arnav: Lo, now I am a dog too..

Khushi: I did not mean that!

Arnav: I know! But why don't you think like this? Like Ranjha following his heer?

Khushi: Ranjha? heer? When did Harvard return Laad Governor Raizada started reading Amar prem kathas?

Arnav: KHUSHI? Why do you always take a different tangent when I am actually talking something else?

Khushi: I am like that!

Arnav: And I am not complaining! By the way how do you know that I am standing outside your window at night? You must be sleeping right?

Khushi: I don't know! Bas pata Chal jata hai! I just get to know you are there!

Arnav: And why is that?

Khushi: I don't know!

Arnav: May be because your heart beats faster when I am around you like now?

As they both were busy talking, Khushi did not notice Arnav nearing her and cornering her to the wall. He was very close to her. VERY CLOSE that he could hear her heart drumming.

As Khushi realized that she was about to move out when he caged her between his hands and bent to her face.

Arnav: What happened Khushi? Your heart is beating so fast right?

Khushi: Nothing like that! How do you know?

Arnav: Because Mine does too when you are near me. Wanna check?

Arnav said so casually that for a minute Khushi's hands raised to his heart, but she dropped her hand and glared at him.

Khushi: Don't try to trap me in your sweet talks. Aap Ramanchi kar rahe hai!

Arnav: Ahan? I am not cheating! Its you who are in denial. By the way Arnav Singh Raizada plays to win! Vese bhi everything is fair in Love and war!

Khushi pushed him and stood huffing!

Khushi: Laad governor Raizada!

She stomped her foot and moved out taking her things and scooty key.

Arnav(Yelling at her retreating figure): Be ready tomorrow Khushi!

Khushi(without turning back): Fine! Don't follow me if you want that!

Arnav: What the!

Khushi: Same to you!

She kept walking leaving a chuckling Arnav to take his SUV keys and leave home! He cannot wait for tomorrow!

Next day, Arnav called early in the morning disturbing a very peacefully sleeping Khushi. Groggily she answered the call.

Arnav: Good morning sleepyhead!

Khushi: Who are you disturbing me early in the morning pea brain?

Arnav: What the!

Khushi: Laad governor ka bhoot gusa hai kya?

Has laad governor's ghost entered?

she wondered loudly checking her phone and to her nightmare she found that it was indeed Arnav calling!

Khushi: Khushi! Gayi kaam se!

she chided herself when Arnav was having fun time the other side! He was actually laughing inaudibly rolling on his bed! A day cannot start in a more better way than this!

Khushi: Arnavji!

Arnav: so now I am a pea brain too?

Khushi: Sorry I was sleeping! I didn't..

Arnav: I should get used to this!

Khushi: JI?

Arnav: You giving me names..

Khushi: Ji..

Arnav: Ji se aage bado!

Say something apart from Ji..

Khushi: Ji.

Arnav: Again?

Khushi: Ji.. I mean why did you called me early in the morning?

Arnav: First, its not early in the morning! It is nearly 10 in the morning. Next, get ready I am coming in an hour to pick you up.

Khushi: Hey Devi Maiyya its 10? But why hasn't Amma come yelling with her belan still?

Arnav: May be because she wanted you to have good sleep as I have been disturbing you all these nights?

Khushi: How will she know.. WAIT! Did you call her?

Arnav: don't waste your time. Get ready.

Khushi: Where are you taking me?

Arnav: Why does it matter?

Khushi: How will I dress myself if I don't know where you are taking me? I cannot be wearing something odd and looking like a joker!

Arnav: You will look beautiful in anything you wear Khushi. Wear anything simple. May be a saree?

Khushi: Saree?

Arnav: Hmmm.. Yes.. Now get ready. Bye.

Khushi was staring at her mobile wondering why saree and Arnav was actually looking forward to see his Khushi in saree. Last time he saw her in saree on her birthday! Oh how beautiful she was!

Soon she got ready in 45 minutes and came down. Garima who was setting table ready for Saturday brunch looked at her.

Garima: Uff! You got ready at last! I was about to come and check if you are sleeping again.

Khushi: You know?

Garima: What I know?

Khushi: That Arnav ji is taking me somewhere?

Garima: O' course I know! Even your bauji knows.

Khushi: And here I was breaking my head how to inform you both! Why is he torturing me?

Sasi: That Khushi you should ask him.

Khushi: Nowadays you are his parents than mine! being his secretary I also don't know about his whereabouts than you people! This is the LIMIT!

Garima: Why are you getting so irritated Bitiya. Want some jalebi?

And before she could ask for it, her mobile rang flashing Arnav's name and singing..

BOSS KA PHONE AYA HAI LAAD GOVERNOR KA PHONE AYA HAI!

In this week as Arnav tortured her silently, she got this ringtone made and set for him! Garima slapped her forehead while Sasi shook his head in disbelief!

Khushi: Hello?

Arnav: Are you ready? I will be there in few minutes!

Khushi: Well why don't you ask my parents if I am ready or not!

Arnav: Ok.. That means you are ready. Bye!

He cut the call again leaving a fuming Khushi to glare at her mobile. If only she can let fire through her eyes which can burn him through her mobile! Then she huffed and puffed and went down.

Sasi: I really pity Arnav bitwa!

Garima: He is no less! He is the one who can put up with her!

The happy couple got into their daily routine, while Khushi stood with her puffed up red face and her hands folded in her front waiting for Arnav's car in her apartment lobby. As soon as she heard the horn she moved out only to stand there forgetting everything as she saw her prince! He was wearing a white t shirt hugging his body below his blue blazer and he wore a dark blue jean! The moment he removed his sunglasses, she drowned in his chocolate pool. She has never seen him in casuals. And today she decided that she better not see him! He was hot and drool worthy. Any woman would kill to be with him.

Arnav's state was not better. As soon as he got down from the driver seat and removed his sunglasses, He stood there like a statue. Khushi was looking beautiful in that turquoise blue and magenta color faux saree. She was looking like a mermaid of ocean in that ocean color saree and his name meant ocean! What the.. when did he started thinking like some poet! Ahh.. Khushi... He shook his head and went to her.

ArnaV: Hi..

And Khushi stood staring until he clicked his finger in front of her.

Khushi: Han?

Arnav: I said Hi!

Khushi: H.. Hi!

Arnav: Shall we move?

Khushi: O.. Ok!

Soon they moved to the car. Arnav held the passenger side door open for her while she nervously got in. The drive was completely silent except for Arnav humming,

HUMSE PYAAR KAR LE TU... GIRAFTAAR KAR LE TU..

while Khushi fumed and fidgeted making Arnav chuckle.

Soon Arnav stopped in front of a big gate and as he honked an old watchman opened the gate for him and saluted smiling. Arnav opened his side window.

Arnav: Ramchand chacha! How many times have I asked you not to salute me?

Ramchand: You are my saab baba. Now you have grown to a respectful man.

Arnav: That does not change anything. I am still the same Chota baba. By the way where is your son Archan?

Ramchand: He is studying some computer course teaching the same part time.

Arnav: Hmmm.. Ask him to meet me. Ok now let me get in and meet others.

As the conversation went on, Khushi was sitting there with her eyes round and wide open mouth. Looks like it was her day of shocking surprises. She never knew Arnav could be so polite! And they were driving into the portico where Arnav left the car and his driver took the keys to park it.

Arnav: So! Shall we?

He asked getting her down. Khushi stood staring at the beautiful mansion in front of her. They walked in as Khushi asked.

Khushi: Where have you brought me Arnav ji? Not to your Mansion right?

Arnav: No! Why will I take you to my lonely mansion?

Khushi: Then..

Before she could say anything else, she was fiercely hugged.

WELCOME HOME!