The Contract of Hearts: A FF (Continued)
Part X: THE FACE OFF
Khushi was looking stunning in the black semi-transparent lace saree with delicate and neat Lucknowi work that he had bought for her at the Jalebi Night. She was wearing platinum accessories along with it and they accentuated her pearly-white and silky soft skin. But what caught his eye was his Jeeju, Shyam who was taking in her appearance with his X-ray vision as though he would unclothe her with his sight.
Arnav was terribly sickened by the man who in spite of having a beautiful and charming wife like his sister was harboring dirty thoughts on his supposed fiancee. He felt all the more awkward for her situation in having to put up with such a pest just for the sake of their contract.
Arnav had already tolerated this man too much for the sake of his sister. He would warn him before the commencement of the dinner to stay away from Khushi. After all she was his responsibility. She had entered into this agreement just for the sake of his Di's happiness. Then how could he place her happiness and safety under stake?
Though he could not expose his Jeeju before his Di for fear that she would break, he could as well deal with such a two-timing creep in the way he had to be dealt with in private. ASR spoke gruffly, "Jeejaji, aap mere room me aayenge? Main kuch discuss karna chahtha hoon."
Shyam was met with two resounding slaps on his cheeks the minute he entered the room. ASR blasted him out telling, "I've tolerated enough of your nonsense. If I've not exposed you, it is just for Di. Khushi is my fiancee. Got it! Stay away from her!" It was almost as if a volcano had burst.
Shyam slinked away without talking because he could not afford a total exposure. He promised himself that he would avenge Arnav in a way he could never foresee. He was talking on phone with someone "Ji! Meeting pre-pone karna hai. Theek hai aap phone kardenge Arnav ko?" Shyam rubbed his eyes and smiled viciously thinking "Ha! Ha! I'll see how you get out of this one, Arnav."
ASR came down for the dinner while Shyam made some excuse about some important work to Nani and left the Raizada house in a huff. Anjali was little bit sad that her dear hubby would not be with her for the diner, but Arnav consoled her telling, "He must be having some important work. He'll come back soon. In the meantime, I'm here to give you company, am I not?"
He knew that Shyam must have been upset with the way he had dealt with him and had made this excuse. But it could not be helped. His Jeeju would have to realize that he could not go scot-free forever. Anjali teasing, "Haan bhai! Par kitne din? Aakash aur Payal ki shadi toh jaldhi hone wali hai aur tumhara bhi ek saal main hojaayega. Tab main kya karungi?"
ASR blushed at the mention of a marriage which everybody was anticipating, his and Khushi's. He still did not want to think about what would happen after the end of their contract. They would deal with it when the time comes, he thought. In the meantime, he would maintain his distance from her from now onwards. Today he would sit beside Nani and not beside her for dinner, he decided.
Payal and Akaash were sitting beside each other lost in a separate world of their own. Khushi was fidgeting with the ends of her saree, expecting that he would come and talk to her. But he maintained a resolute distance from her. She was giving half-hearted answers to the questions Nani asked her while Anjali Di was truly nonplussed with what was happening between her Chotey and Khushi. "I'll talk to him later", thought Anjali Di.
It was at this juncture that Sameer made his entrance. He livened up the whole atmosphere with his energy and vivacity. He said, "Naniji, pranam" bowing before the feet of the old dowager in obeisance. Nani was beaming in smiles, "Khushi huvi bitwa, tum apne sanskar naahi bhule jaise ke kuch log joh yahaan hain." I classified that as a dirty dig by Nani at my atheistic tendencies.
Sameer swept everyone in our family off their feet including Nani, Di, Akaash, Mamaji and Mamiji with his lively conversation and sweet behavior. He even complimented Lakshmi on her appearance earning brownie points from Nani who loved this goat to bits. When we sat down for dinner, he asked, "Arnav tum Khushi ke sath nahi baithoge?"
"Nahi. Main hamesha Nani ke paas bait thah hoon." I tried replying as nonchalantly as I could. Khushi stared at me with her big hazel eyes silently reproaching me for this lie as she considered it. "Koi baath nahin. Main baith thah hoon Khushi ke paas. Akkhir bachpan ki dost hai meri!" replied Sameer in a sly manner winking his eyes at Khushi.
"Oh No!" Arnav thought "Grr! Khushi and Sameer beside each other the whole evening, giggling away at jokes which would appeal only to them, while I would have Nani for company!"
(Coming up next ASR ki jhallan and Khushi ki birthday ke mauke par ASR ko jana padega business trip par)
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