The Contract of Hearts (Last Part Updated Pg.97) - Page 2

The Contract of Hearts: A FF(Continued)

Part II

ARNAV AND KHUSHI TO GO FOR THE JALEBI NIGHT

Arnav thinking in his cabin:

"Now who told Nani about this party? And how do I break this news to her. We had decided that our relationship in the office would be strictly professional because very soon you know we would-

Okay have to brace myself up for the Khushi tornado. Usually it was only till the "Ms. Gupta come to my cabin" that I did the talking, after that the proceedings would be taken over by Khushi Express who would go on and on, not that I wished to interrupt her, because you see, I loved to-

Stop Arnav! What are you doing? You are acting for the happiness of the rest. You are not in any real relationship with her. Remember the contract! But how nice it would be if it were really true-

I have heard about witches and chudails during my childhood from mom. They had the power to bewitch you and make you forget the rest of the world. Khushi also-

She could not be a chudail as she was so beautiful and charming that anybody would take her in their arms the minute they set eyes on-"

Khushi Kumari Gupta breezes in:

Arnav was interrupted in the full flow of his thoughts by the entry of the impetuous and rash Khushi Kumari Gupta who managed to fall every five minutes, and would have been admitted in the hospital for a dozen fractured limbs if it had not been for him to be there, and save her every time she fell.

"God! And the eyelocks after that, and that irritating ringtone of hers "Chalo Maiyya ke Bhavan Bhavan Bhavan" which always sprang to life on these occasions as if it knew what was happening, breaking the magical spell between us-

Only once in his life had he dropped her from his cabin, that too on her wish, but she had never stopped taunting him about it. He never took the risk the second time after that. After all she was too precious for him to-"

"Did you call me? Anything important today? Did Naniji say something? Is everything fine at home? That Shyam did not trouble Anjali Di? I'll break his teeth if he does. Tell me whether'?" Khushi rattling off at express speed without giving him an opportunity to talk.

"Will you just keep quiet for a second? Everything is fine at home. We are going for a party today evening." Arvav gasped out of breath at this huge onslaught of questions by the inimitable KKG.

"We, means you and I?" She interrupted, irritating Arnav even further.

"No! Me and my peon Nathuram! Are you mad? Of course, with you. Moreover it is Nani's wish that we go to this Jalebi Night. God knows what has come upon all the people in Delhi ever since you came into my life. Jalebi Night! I didn't expect this from Mr. Malhotra. Don't know what all this fuss is about?" Arnav thundered.

Dreams Sweet Dreams exploding in KKG's mind:

Khushi was lost in her own world of dreams at the very thought, "Jalebis here, jalebis there, jalebis everywhere. Finally Khadoos Singh Raizada had a partner worth his salt. Seemed to be the idea of the century. She could organize one in Lucknow after the end of the contract.

After all, she had her own private Jalebi Nights after her unending fights with Arnav. Why not a public Jalebi Night like this one? But the very thought of the end of this blessed contract seemed to make her unhappy and uneasy for some unfathomable reason. Why so? Stop thinking Khushi! Think about the Jalebi Night!"

Khushi's eyes popped out in wide-eyed wonder, and Arnav began to wonder if she heard him right, or whether he had to repeat himself because she seemed to show no signs of reacting after hearing about the party. Of course, even he would have been the same if he heard it first. Did anyone in their right heads organize a Jalebi Night?

(To be continued soon with ASR huva talli with bhaang, and the 'yeh dosti hum nahi chodenge' entry of Mr. Malhotra aka. Sameer Malhotra, Arnav's business partner from Canada and Khushi's childhood friend)

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)

The Contract of Hearts: A FF (Continued)

Part XII: TO LET GO IS THE BEST THING

(Feeling very crappy and disturbed today with no Arhi. Looked up around the forum and found one Rashi going crazy after Shyamji. So had no option but to update my post. Enjoy the weekend. Will update next on Monday. Khushi and Jalebis, great twist on the show!)

"Next time you should plan your trip to India for at least one full month. After all, my brother and your friend, Khushi will be married by that time, hopefully", Anjali Di suggested.

Arnav was in a state of violent shock with Di's suggestion that Sameer plan a month-long trip. He was at his wit's end on how to deal with this fortnight and if it was one full month, he would be a gone case.

For the next line of his Di regarding his marriage with Khushi, he coughed so violently that everybody was concerned. "Aap theek toh hai na , bitwa?" Nani enquired in a worried manner at his sudden coughing spree.

"And Khushi, you and Sameer were talking about the story of the mountaineer? What's it?" Di asked bringing back the topic to that old Moral Science story which had been interrupted by his unhealthy inquisitiveness about Sameer's date of departure, and his violent coughs in its aftermath.

Sameer added, "Glad that you asked Di. It's one story which has shown me on how a human being should not be! We often deceive ourselves with false notions and the burden of the past. We are afraid to see the reality for what it is. We cling to things and thoughts which we actually have to let go."

For some reason, Arnav was all attention to this story. He did not know the reason why. But it felt as though these words held some deep significance to his life, addled as it was in the mire of a past from which he was unable to extricate himself to this day. He too wanted to love and live life to the fullest like other people.

If only he could have a happy-go-lucky nature like Sameer ------ a happy childhood where innocence would not be tainted by the harsh realities of the world! Nobody could understand his angst. When would the day come when the demons of his past would stop pursuing him?

Arnav's mind was brimming to the full with the garbage of the past. His Di and Khushi were like the two guardian angels in his life. They made him believe that there was still hope and happiness in life for him. But he was afraid to believe. What if they were snatched from him a second time? No! He, ASR, would never allow it! The contract between them would remain the same!

Khushi narrated in a sing-song voice peculiar to all good story-tellers,

"It is the story of a mountaineer who was attempting to scale a great Himalayan peak all alone. The summit was only a few meters away. It was night by this time. He thought I have achieved it, when suddenly something went wrong and his gear gave away. He slipped from his safe niche.

The mountaineer was falling down, down and down. He did everything he learnt to stop the accident. But there was no stopping' and it was beyond his control now. He thought his end had come. He remembered GOD, and asked GOD to help him and rescue him.

He found that something had stopped him from falling further. He was hanging from the rope he had tied to his waist. GOD told him to cut the rope. WHAT??? He couldn't believe what he heard. He clutched the rope tightly.

The mountaineer kept hanging in the mid air throughout the night. He couldn't let himself fall again. Next day the rescue team arrived and found the mountaineer DEAD, hanging in the air, his hands still clasped to the rope tightly, only 10 feet above the ground."

Khushi concluded, "We all have our own rope, our past experience by which we hang and form lots of opinions. We are not ready to trust people, not even G O D."

Arnav was roused to tears by this poignant tale of the mountaineer meeting with his death out of his own folly and half-belief. It seemed so real, it seemed his own story. He too would die in a figurative sense if he could not let go the past. But could he, really?

(ASR forced to go on a business trip on Khushi's birthday)

The Contract of Hearts: A FF

Part XVIII: BANGING ON A LOCKED DOOR

Arnav had been avoiding Ms. KKG on one pretext or the other for the past six days. The D-day when they were to leave for Singapore kept inching closer and closer. The whole trip seemed to send shivers down his spine. Just the two of them together with nobody to disturb them! He had made the resolution that he would stay away from her. But such a resolution is easier made than kept! And, he Arnav, knew it in his heart of hearts!

Khushi was at her wit's end on what to make out of this fashion tycoon who was literally driving her crazy. She even started having doubts whether what she had imagined to be his love for her was just a figment of her imagination. He spoke harsh words to her but his eyes seemed to convey something else. She could neither make head nor tail out of this mystery.

But all Khushi knew from what ASR had let slip on her birthday about his mother and his past, was that it would be extremely tough to wheedle out that confession of love from him. Something had gone wrong in his past; she wanted to ask what it was. But she was afraid to do so for fear that she would offend him.

Khushi hoped against hope that he would open up before her and share his problems just as she did hers, but in vain. It was like battling an invisible enemy. The past was a barrier in the path of their love. Her sixth sense and intuition told her so, but she had no means to discover what it was and how to tackle it. She prayed to her only hope and support, Devi Maiyya, to show her the path.

She was truly and deeply in love with him to retreat or give up. This Singapore trip was perhaps the best opportunity she had to make him speak up and confess what was really in his heart. She wanted to share his pain, sorrow, anger, resentment, and angst, and pour the soothing balm of her love on his troubled soul. But how could she when he seemed to shut all the doors to his heart and soul from her?

Both of them were in his car driving to the airport. He was driving as though she didn't even exist. They had not spoken a single word after he came to pick her up at Buaji's house. She was feeling very sad and disappointed with his behavior. She wanted to cry and even her eyes started welling up with tears which started forming at the corners of her eyes. But being different from the rest and not the one to lose hope, she started humming an old melody from a Hindi film to divert herself:

Zindagi ek safar hai suhana, yahan kal kya ho kisne jaana
Arey o leiyo leiyo, oleiyo leiyo, oleiyo leiyo, oleiyo leiyo, oleiyo leiyo, oleiyo leiyo(yodeling bit)

Chandh taaron se chalna hai aage, asmaanon se badna hai aage Pichhe reh jayega yeh zamana, yahan kal kya ho kisne jaana

Haste gate jahan se guzar, duniya ki tu parvah na kar Muskuraate hue din bitana, yahan kal kya ho kisne jaana

Maut aani hai ayegi ik din, jaan jaani hai jayegi ik din Aisi baaton se kya ghabrana, yahan kal kya ho kisne jaana

Zindagi ek safar hai suhana, yahan kal kya ho kisne jaana
Arey o leiyo leiyo, oleiyo leiyo, oleiyo leiyo, oleiyo leiyo, oleiyo leiyo, oleiyo leiyo(yodeling bit)

This song of Kishore Kumar never failed to lift up her spirits and pep her up for the forthcoming challenges. When she came to the yodeling bit, she literally forgot herself and started yodeling to her heart's content aloud. Even Arnav started laughing hearing her pathetic yodeling which was a very poor imitation of the original yodeling by Kishore Kumar.

Khushi was very happy to see him laughing to his heart's content even though it was at her. This was the Arnav she loved, and this was the real Arnav, and not the hard and cold ASR he projected to the rest of the world. However ASR quickly recovered himself and was back to his old gloomy and brooding self. Khushi, lamented to herself, "So it's back to square one again!"

They had checked-in and were waiting for the take off of their flight. She was making all attempts to get a decent conversation going while he was answering in just mono syllables. Finally ASR had decided that he had had enough of this conversation and went aside on the pretext of an important business call. Khushi could clearly see that he was avoiding her. She sat down extremely dispirited with whatever was happening between them.

There was still half an hour more for boarding. ASR who went aside to make the call had not yet returned. Khushi thought to herself why not make a call to Payal Jiji just to kill time instead of sitting here all alone. She called, "Hello, Jiji! Hum air port aagaye hain -----------" She just stepped aside for the sake of getting better signals.

Arnav came back after making the call and saw that her seat was empty. He was very flustered and anxious and started searching and enquiring for her all over the place. Arnav to himself, "Where did this girl go? She must have been angry with me. Did she go back home? Or is she in the restroom? How careless of her! Who will take responsibility if something happens to her?"

A hundred bad thoughts crowded his mind when he did not find her for just a second. Khushi returned to her seat, completely unaware of all this, when Arnav shouted, "Are you mad? Where did you go all of a sudden without telling me? I was searching for you like mad. What if you get lost?"

Khushi opened her mouth in complete astonishment. She retorted, "I'm not a baby to get lost. I can take care of myself. By the bye, I just stepped aside to call Jiji as I was not getting the signals from my seat."

Arnav now knew that he had made a perfect fool of himself. But only he knew what passed through his heart when he could not find her for a single instant. He practiced a studied silence for the rest of their journey till Singapore.

They reached their hotel when they were confronted by another problem. By mistake the suites booked for them were connecting suites. They were informed with great regret by the hotel staff that there were no more rooms or suites available and it would be next to impossible to get two single rooms or suites in another hotel as this was the peak season in Singapore. Arnav sighed, "Oh no!" while Khushi did a jig in her heart of hearts.

(To be continued with Arhi and Maneet to meet at Singapore)

The Contract of Hearts: A FF

Part XI: ASR LAL HUVA JALLAN SEH

(We all love Arhi moments, but for the present, it is the turn of a very jealous Arnav. Romantic moments coming up in the later updates. Enjoy jealous Arnie till then!)

Khushi and Sameer had been giggling away for the past half an hour and their meal had not progressed beyond the first course while I was into my last course. "What did they have to talk? We never had anything to say to each other, while these two inseparable friends went on and on with no full stop to their conversation. Even my own Nani seemed so engrossed in the conversation of the two, and was participating in the discussions happening on the other side of the table with a never before seen enthusiasm", Arnav thought.

"You know the Maths exam we had--------" Sameer to Khushi reminiscing those good old days when they studied Maths at school together.

Arnav was becoming more and more impatient with every passing minute, "Will you pass me the salt, Khushi?" Kushi passed the salt in a cursory manner and returned back to their interesting conversation, "Yes! I was very weak in Maths and had scored a zero in the test. I was afraid to show the report card to Babuji, and you-----you added a one before the zero and a zero after the zero making it a hundered!"

"Now that was quick thinking on my part, wasn't it?" Sammer, laughing his head off.

Khushi replying, "Don't know whether it was quick thinking or not, but you got a quick and sound spanking from our teacher for it. Remember?"

"You used to open your tiffin box and complete it during the science class when the teacher's back was turned" Sammer recollecting those good old days, "And how you used to snatch my lunch box during the lunch time as you had already finished your tiffin during the class?"

"How wonderful those days were! No worries, no tensions, just eat, play and be merry all the day" Khushi reflected sadly.

"And your birthday is coming this Sunday! What have you planned for it? I'll arrange a rocking party to celebrate it. I'm here after so many years so----" Sameer making plans to make dear friend Khushi's birthday memorable. ASR had had enough of it. Past sweet memories! Fine! But celebrating her birthday? He was still alive, wasn't he?

"If anybody is organizing anything, it's going to be me, Khushi's boyfriend and fiance!" Arnav intervened sending a wave of stunned silence throughout the entire room. ASR's face flushed a deep red with anger. He clenched his fists in a fit of deep annoyance at Sameer taking too many liberties with Khushi, as Arnav considered it.

Nobody had expected me, ASR, to be celebrating anybody's birthday. Nani was too stunned for words. These are strange depths, she thought. Even Payal and Akaash who were lost in their romance looked up to see what all this confusion was?

But Sameer had recovered sufficiently from my outburst and replied, "Kya baath hai? Jealous ho kya? Khushi ki birthday special honi chahiye! Woh tum karo yah main kya farak padtha hai?"

"Han wahi toh!" Payal too agreed, concurring with Sameer's opinion about Khushi's birthday celebrations. So it was fixed! I, ASR, would be organizing a party for Khushi!

"You always manage to get yourself in the worst spot, don't you?" cursed my inner conscience. "You wanted to maintain distance from her, and here you go taking the responsibility for her birthday party!"

After that embarrassing pause in the heated atmosphere of the room, everything was back to normal. Now was the turn of 'Moral Science' in the discussion of the two idiots! "That story of the mountaineer, how relevant it is to our lives!"

"What's the story, Khushi? I'm rather curious to know", even my dear Di getting into the act and being the perfect hostess and participating in Khushi's and Sameer's conversation.

"It's like this, Di------" Khushi began

"Oh No! A Moral Science lesson in the offing!" ASR was literally seething with anger. He could not help himself from asking this question to Sameer, "How many days are you planning to stay in India? You do have your business to take care in Canada, don't you?"

"It's just a short trip! I'll be staying just for a fortnight" Sameer innocently replied, not realizing ASR's real motive in asking the question.

(The story of the mountaineer and ASR forced to go on a business trip on Khushi's birthday)

The Contract of Hearts: A FF (Continued)

Part XXXIV: THE PAST IS A FESTERING SORE

The preliminaries to their marriage like the haldi, sangeet, and mehendi ceremony had gone on without a hitch. Of course, he knew that they were married. But this marriage was for the world. He had never anticipated anything so much in this world. His mind went back to that day ten years back when his sister was getting married.

Arnav told himself, he was just hallucinating and nothing would go wrong this time. He had been too hurt by his past experiences that every time something was going right in his life, he felt scared to actually accept it. This was the reason why he took so long to confess his love for her. He had realized it long back that she was his life-breath and he could not stay away from her.

His heart told him one thing while his mind suggested the contrary. He had been battling this conflict of choices for a really long time before he could not withstand it any longer and had confessed. "It will take time", he told himself, "You just wait and watch. Soon she will be your bride and nobody can ever separate that bond." He was wearing a blue sherwani which she had selected for him. Her bridal costume was a mixture of green and pink, very much reminiscent of their first meeting at Lucknow in the Sheesh Mahal.

They had come to that portion of the marriage ceremony where the lineages of both the bridegroom and bride would be explained for the benefit of one and all. The lady whom Khushi had invited at Daabholi was also among those present in that hall. Garima also seemed very happy that Khushi's grandfather had forgotten the past and made it to her marriage. She was attending to his wants and needs with great alacrity.

The panditji read out, "Hence it has been decided by the elders of the family to solemnize the marriage of Arnav Singh Raizada @ Arnav Malik, son of Mahesh Malik and Hemlatha Malik of Lucknow and Khushi Kumari Gupta @ Khushi Mehta, daughter of Suraj Mehta and Shraddha Mehta belonging to Lucknow."

It was like a bolt from the blue. It was then that the truth came crashing upon all of them. Everybody had decided that the past was not significant with their present day lives. Little did they realize that it was a festering sore which continued to influence their present and will ever make its presence felt.

Khushi's dadaji roared, "Nahin! Meri pothi ki shadi us Malik ke bete seh nahin ho sakthi. Aaj woh Malik aur Hemlatha nahin hote toh woh zinda hothi."

Garima was cursing herself that she was responsible for all this. If she had not invited him, all this would not have happened. She still remembered that day when her Didi was getting married to Mahesh Malik. It was the match which was fixed by her Bade Saab. But her Didi was not happy with the marriage. She was in love with Suraj who was their manager. Shraddha Didi had confessed all this to Mahesh who had helped both of them get married. Bade Saab had disinherited Shraddha and held Mahesh responsible for this state of affairs.

Many years had passed before she met Didi again. Everything had fallen apart. Suraj was not the person whom he had projected himself to be. He was purely after Di for her money. But when she was disinherited, he had lost all interest in her. The birth of Khushi was the last straw. Suraj had wanted a son, but here, he got a daughter.

Didi did not complain all these years despite the ill treatment meted out to her by her husband. She had borne everything because she felt that it was her wrong decisions which had brought her to this pass. But when it was a question of her daughter's life, Didi could not keep quiet. She walked out of the marriage. Maheshji magnanimously gave her and Khushi refuge. She had met Didi along with Khushi, a few days before that terrible incident occurred, at the market, when she told her about everything that had happened.

Hemlatha, Mahesh's wife was also a very good and generous soul, and treated Shraddha as her own friend. Only thing, she was not aware of what had actually happened between Maheshji and Didi at the time of their marriage. Hemlatha thought that her husband was just helping a hapless woman. Maheshji and Hemlatha's daughter was getting married. It was at this juncture the truth came out.

What had happened, she could only guess, because when she found Khushi, she was crying on the streets all alone, with nobody beside her. Shraddha and Maheshji were dead and Hemlatha ran away from that place forever. Everybody said that Hemlatha had pushed Shraddha from the stairs and killed her husband with a gun when he went to pacify her.

Garima's heart was breaking because she knew both Arnav and Khushi loved each other more than anything else in this world. After this outburst of truth, she could see no other option but their separation. Khushi was trying to convince Arnav, "Arnav I don't believe a single thing of whatever these people are saying. What do we have to do with all those things? I don't even remember whatever happened."

Khushi caught hold of his hands trying to comfort and console him. He jerked his hands away from hers saying, "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, WILL YOU!" Khushi walked back, stunned with whatever she heard, and ran back to her room crying. In ordinary circumstances, Arnav would have immediately gone after her trying to console her, "But today I myself have not come to terms with whatever has happened, whatever I've heard. How could I console her? What a cruel mockery of fate!" He shut the door of his room still not sure that all this was happening in his life.

Khushi's dadaji walked out of the mandap, while the veiled Sadhvi who was watching all this from a corner of the hall asked Naniji permission to talk with Arnav for just five minutes. Naniji was about to refuse saying her grandson was not in a position to talk with anybody after what had happened today when she lifted her veil asking, "Could I see him now Ma? There are many things my son needs to know. He is laboring under the burden of the half-truths of the past. The time has come when he should be aware of the full truth."

Nani was trying to make Arnav open his door. Anjali also pleaded Arnav to open that door but in vain. Suddenly Hemlatha sang a lullaby which she used to sing for her son when he was small. Arnav was shocked. Her voice was the last thing he expected to hear on this fateful day. He opened the door. Both mother and son had a long, heart to heart talk.

Hemlatha told him, "I came to know that Shraddha and Mahesh were actually to marry on the day of Anjali's marriage. I was shocked and totally broken down. I felt all those long years of marriage a cruel joke. Now I knew why your father never reciprocated his love for me to the extent I did. Why I was always his responsibility and not love.

Shraddha tried to make me understand that it was just a misunderstanding and that she never wanted to marry Mahesh, and how if not for her daughter's safety, she would never have tried to seek shelter here under this roof. But I was blind with anger and helpless rage. I freed her hand from mine and in the tussle; she went rolling down the stairs and died on the spot.

I was about to kill myself with the gun when your father came in to save me. He was killed while trying to snatch the gun from my hand. It was then I realized the magnitude of the crime I had committed. I left the place forever and have tried to atone for my sins by leading the life of a Sadhvi who has renounced this world.

The other day, when I saw you and Khushi, I immediately recognized that you were my son based on your resemblance to your dad. I could not stop myself from coming to this marriage. Whatever has happened has happened.

Khushi was ready to accept you even after she was told by her grandfather that I had killed her mother. Where will you get a girl like her who will stay with you come what may. The past was to some extent an accident and misunderstanding. Please don't spoil your life for that.

If all our lives went wrong in the past, it was because we did not marry the right life partner. Shraddha loved a despicable creep who deserted her and her daughter. I loved your father but did not trust him as I should have done. Your father should have told the whole truth himself. Then all this would not have happened.

All of us made mistakes in our own way. Please don't repeat them in your life. You have got the love of your life. Don't let her go. Talk to her before it is too late. I have to go now. My work here is done. I've told you the truth, the rest is up to you!"

Arnav tried to stop his mother but she told him that she had renounced everything long back, and she was not Hemlatha anymore and left the place. Arnav ran to Khushi's room. He thought, "How could I say those words to her? I mean the utmost to her. She could even leave the rest of the world for my sake. How could I be so cruel to her?"

Khushi's tears refused to stop flowing. She didn't know where she was going. She only knew that she would not see him again. When she boarded the taxi, the man had asked her where to take her. She gave him all the money she had with her and asked him to take her as far as that money would take her. Her heart was broken into a thousand pieces. What had become of all her dreams, her marriage, her love, her life?

The song "Chan se joh tute koi sapna" from the movie Om Shanthi Om blared on the FM radio of the taxi. How poignant were those words! Suddenly she felt as though she was completely empty. All she heard were his words echoing in her ears, ""JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, WILL YOU!"

"Main toh jiya na mara, hai ve das main ki kara
Dil jude bina hi tut gaye, hath mile bina hi chhut gaye, ki likhe ne lekh kismet ne
Baar baar rod akhiyan tainu jo na vekh sakiyan, khole aaye aaj kudrat ne
Kataan main ki ve din teri soth tere bin, main toh jiya na mara

Chan Se jo tute koi sapna, jag suna suna lage
Jag suna suna lage hai to yeh kyun hota hai
Jab yeh dil rota hai, roye sisak sisak ki hawayein
Jag suna lage

Roothi rothi sari raatein, fikhe fikhe sare din, virani si virani hai
Tanhai si tanhai hai, aur ek hum hai pyaar ke bin, har Palchin

Patharo ki is nagari mein, pathar chehre pathar dil, phirta hai mara mara
Kyun rahon mein tu awara, yahan na hoga Kuch hasil mere dil

Chan Se jo tute koi sapna, jag suna suna lage
Jag suna suna lage hai to yeh kyun hota hai
Jab yeh dil rota hai, roye sisak sisak ki hawayein
Jag suna lage"

Arnav was devastated to find her room empty. He left immediately in search of her but could not find her anywhere. It was raining fiercely; he was very worried about her safety. At last, he got down from his car getting soaked to the skin. He fell to the ground screaming with all the anguish and angst that a man who had loved her as he did, crying, "KHUSHI! TUM MUJHE CHODKAR NAHIN JA SAKTHI! MERI GALTHI KI ITHNI BADI SAZA NAHIN DEH SAKTHI!"

The Contract of Hearts: A FF (Continued)

(Have written a very long post this time in compensation for the previous one. Know that you guys will throw daggers at me if I prolong this story for one more update. So concluding KKG's birthday track with this update. Hope you like it!)

Part XV: TIED TOGETHER TILL ETERNITY

"Pick up! ---- Pick up! ------- Pick up that stupid phone, Khushi!" shouted ASR in anger before his cell flew from his hands to land a few feet away from him into the unsuspecting hands of the air hostess who dropped it like a hot brick.

ASR's action set off a series of panic-stricken reactions from the air hostess and other poor fellow passengers who suspected something in the form of a sudden terrorist attack or hijack. The air hostess was serving drinks to a passenger and started screaming as though a bomb had suddenly landed on her.

But to everyone's astonishment and surprise they found that an ordinary mobile phone was the cause of all this commotion and disturbance. But the mystery of how and why the cell flew out of ASR's hands and landed where it did still continued to haunt their minds.

The air hostess quickly regained her cool and poise and spoke with the elegance, politeness and good etiquette reserved exclusively for the air force staff in dealing with even troublesome customers, "Sir, your phone. I could retrieve it in ten different pieces of all sizes. Regret to say that you will not be able to use it again in your life. We apologize for the inconvenience caused to you" and whispered within herself, "Whew! Never dreamt of flying phones even in the wildest of my dreams!"

Khushi had been brooding the whole day in a very black and gloomy mood. She was sitting in a corner of her room. Suddenly her eyes fell on her cell. Five missed calls from the 'Laad Governor'. Her face suddenly beamed like a thousand watt bulb.

Khushi called back ASR only to be met with the constant message, "The phone of the customer you have called is currently switched off!" She heaved a deep and despondent sigh full of pain. Now she could not even talk to him or at least hear his voice. This was the worst ever birthday of her life, she thought mournfully.

ASR was irate with rage and wrath when he was informed by the airline staff at Singapore that though there was a flight to Delhi in an hour from then, they could not possibly start for four hours as the weather had considerably worsened preventing the take off of their flight. They could not hope to start until the mist had cleared.

ASR was in his worst mood ever baby-sitting an expensive fur coat left by an elderly fellow-passenger in his care before going to the restroom. The gentleman was taking his own sweet time in returning, his cell was beyond repair, he could not make even a single call, and when his flight would leave he had the least idea.

"Excellent!" thought a disgruntled ASR. For some odd reason, his mind flew back to the memories of Payal's birthday when he had prevented Khushi from going home early. "Was this some kind of punishment for that misdeed? No! No! It can't be like that!" He scolded himself for being superstitious about such insignificant things.

Payal and Buaji were getting angrier and angrier with ASR for making their sweetie-pie Khushi mop around the house the whole day with a sad expression on her face. At last, Payal could not bear anymore and blurted out, "Khushi, you told me you didn't want to celebrate your birthday I agreed. But roaming around the house in this rag of a cloth, with disheveled hair, and eyes swollen with constant crying? My sister is not like that! Come on fix yourself up! Wear this dress I bought for you as your birthday gift, and wear this pearl set as well!"

Khushi began, "No Jiji! I-----"

Payal shushed her saying, "I've heard enough of what you said. I'll not hear anymore. So ASR means everything to you and me and Buaji nothing?"

Khushi reluctantly agreed, "Okay Jiji! Just for you!"

Khushi washed her face and dressed herself up in the shimmering gold lehenga-choli which her sister and Buaji had got for her as a birthday gift.

Payal was admiring the beauty of her dear sister in that dress. Sad! ASR was not here to appreciate it! He would have been stumped to see her like this, she thought. "Come Khushi! I'll serve you your dinner. It's already very late. You've not eaten a single grain the whole day."

"Please Jiji" Khushi pleaded, "I'm not hungry"

Payal was about to remonstrate her when Buaji intervened whispering in her ears, "Chod doh use! Nand Kisore, main ne jalebi banawath ki khathir saare ration kitchen platform par rakha hai. Khushi theek ho jaiye kal subhah thak!" Payal nodded her head at Buaji's master plan. She said, "All right then! Good Night!" Payal and Buaji had withdrawn for the night into their room hoping that jalebis would do the trick of rectifying her mood. Khushi saw the kitchen platform and sighed. No! She was too exhausted physically and mentally for jalebi making and eating.

ASR's travails did not end even after landing in Delhi. It had started raining buckets and buckets and his car had broken down mid way to boot. He got down from the car and started looking around for a taxi to find that not even a single one was available at that time of the night. The time was 11.25 P.M already. Just thirty-five more minutes left! He had to run if he wanted to reach in time. He was getting soaked to the skin.

By this time he was practically sure that everything was happening as a punishment for that day when he had made her stand in the rain in the parking lot. The memories of that day were so juicy even at this present moment. It was the first time they had unknowingly hugged each other when he saved her from the car. It was also the first time he had discovered that he had a beating heart within his bosom!

Oh! The cake! He had forgotten about that blasted pastry. Here was Arnav Singh Raizada going to meet his girlfriend without even a small bit of sweet or pastry, and a tiny gift in his hand to celebrate her birthday party! He felt tremendously abashed! The thought had completely escaped his mind that he could have at least purchased a cake and gift for her at the Singapore airport.

Arnav had stopped by the roadside terribly disappointed with himself when a soft, shining bit of cloth descended on his arms from the nearby Devi Maiyya mandir. It was a bright red- golden chunari, the kind they usually place on Mata's head. He turned back and saw a small tiny gleam of light filtering from a small shop nearby the mandir!

Arnav smiled and conveyed a thousand thanks to the divine hand for solving his problem. This was the most sincere prayer he had ever said in his whole life. A few days back if anybody had suggested that you will pray to Devi Maiyya, he would have scoffed at the idea. But now, things were changing in his life just as he was changing too.

The clock was striking 11.58 P.M! Khushi was standing on the veranda of her house looking like an angel, glittering like gold in her beautiful B-Day dress. Two small glistening tears were falling down from her soft, brown and expressive eyes. Arnav would die a thousand deaths but never make her cry again in life. "Her tears are too precious for me just like her smiles. While the latter lit up his life, the former cut his heart to a thousand bits. Beware!" Arnav warning those tiny drops for making their unpalatable appearance on her face. The lights suddenly went off!

Khushi had always been very afraid of darkness. She rushed inside the house, and was stumbling across searching for the candle. Suddenly a ray of light pierced across the darkness. So Jiji had woken up to light the candle thought Khushi in a relaxed manner.

She literally could not believe her eyes. She rubbed her eyes to make sure that what she saw was real. She stumbled across the room still unbelieving of the sight which stood before her eyes. The clock struck twelve and Arnav's bass and husky voice broke out into a soulful and touching "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday my dear princess, happy birthday to you!"

The vibrations of the song had not yet died down before Khushi clasped Arnav in a tight embrace as though she was afraid he would disappear if she loosened her hold. She was smiling through her tears. Arnav reproached her, "I came here to stop your tears not to give you more. I'll go now if you don't wipe them immediately."

The fragrant and appetizing scent of a mouth-watering and exquisite jalebi cake wafted up to Khushi's nostrils. There it stood on the table on a beautifully decorated platter with almonds, cashews, pistachios, and cherries as garnishing on top of it. Khushi was still searching for words, "How did you------when did you-----where did you-------"

Arnav hushed her, "Will you ask all the questions at one go or have some jalebi cake as well?" Khushi was so touched by his gesture! She cut the jalebi cake and lovingly fed Arnav with her own hands. He too cut a piece of the jalebi and fed her affectionately. It was at this point she was attacked by this sudden doubt, "Arnav, is it sugar free? I forgot that------"

Arnav laughed away her fears saying, "I'll take an extra tablet tomorrow morning. You mean to deprive me of the cake I got for you with so much difficulty!" He continued, "All the shops were closed! I'd not purchased even a cake for you. Only one small sweet shop was open beside the Devi Maiyya mandir. I hurriedly ordered the man to make a cake with jalebis itself. Could I come empty handed to you on your special day?"

Khushi, becoming naughty by this time, "All right! All right! You got the cake. But you have not bought me any gift, have you?" she said wagging her finger at Arnav. He was just waiting for this cue to take out the red-golden chunari and place it on her head with his own hands. "Isn't an ordinary gift, is it? Even Devi Maiyya got into the act for your birthday. This chunari landed on me from the temple. I thought I could not get you a better gift than this on your birthday" Arnav explained.

They say that the entire universe conspires to unite the bereaved hearts of two pining lovers! The brilliance of a thousand suns could not overshadow the happiness of their hearts on that gloomy night. Maiyya smiled from the world above! Even she was exhausted by this entire play act of hers.

Before going to bed and leaving these two love-birds to enjoy the intimacy of the night with nobody to disturb them, Maiyya proclaimed, "Be you together always! Both of you are like a magnet and a piece of iron. Nothing can separate you! Even if a trillion forces of this world come between you, including your own thick woolen heads, both of you are meant to be! You are tied together till eternity, both in life and death, in this world and the next!"

(To be continued with ASR and KKG to meet MSK and Geet at Singapore for the organization of Sparkles 2011)

The Contract of Hearts: A FF (Continued)

Part V: YEH DOSTI HUM NAHI CHODENGE

"Tum!", an extremely shocked and perplexed Khushi.

"My! She never changes dialogues when she meets new acquaintances, does she? But what the heck! She has never met Mr. Malhotra, then-" thought Arnav remembering his initial meetings with KKG.

"Mr. Sameer Malhotra, my Canada business partner" said Arnav doing the introductions, "and this is my fiancee-"

"Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta" said Sameer snatching the words from Arnav's mouth.

"Since when did Khushi Kumari Gupta become so popular with his business associates?" thought Arnav ransacking his brains for some clue about this mystery.

"Sameer! Tum" Khushi smiling profusely, "Haan. Mai" Sameer with equal happiness and delight.

"Mai ne socha nahi tha ke woh tum hoge!" Khushi still not sure about everything that was happening around her.

"Tum ne socha aur woh kaise nahi hoga!" Sameer practically repeating the same words of KKG in a different style.

ASR was at his wit's end by this time. Even his anger was slowly mounting at being ignored like this by his supposed girl friend and business partner.

"Kitne din huve hain na?" Khushi unable to control herself.

"Haan, kitne din huve hain na?" Sameer.

"When is this going to end? Will anyone explain what's going on?" thought Arnav when thankfully Mr. Malhotra explained, "Me and Khushi were best friends at school. We are meeting each other after nearly fifteen years. I often used to tease her as Jalebi Bai when we were young. Too bad Jalebi Bai! You did not wait for me. Mr. ASR, I must say that you are a very lucky man to have Khushi in your life", Sameer going on and on about their sweet childhood memories.

ASR thought, "Don't know whether he was the happiest man or not. But right at this moment, he was the most jealous man on this planet. But why?"

ASR was standing in a corner of the hall feeling quite ignored and restless while both Sameer and Khushi were so busy recapping everything that had happened in their lives for the past fifteen years ever since they had parted. "She never talks to me like this! But why does it trouble me? After all, he is her friend."

ASR was burning under the pangs of jealousy which he was experiencing for the first time in his life. "She has somebody else who means more to her", thought Arnav grudgingly.

"Aur yad hai woh din jab hum chath par pathang chalathe the?" Khushi was brimming with the joy which the old memories had brought.

"Haan. Ab bhi hum kar sakthe hai. Chath par jaye kya pathang udane ke liye?" Sameer said, taking the cue from KKG's thoughts.

"Par is samay! Ithni raath ho chuki hai" Khushi said a little bit hesitantly.

"Khushiyon ke liye koi samay hotha hai kya?" Sameer squashing aside Khushi's hesitation.

"Ramu Kaka, sabke liye pathang udane ke wyavastha chath par kijiye" Sameer said instructing his butler.

ASR with the annoyed expression of what new farce was cooking up this night. He asked the waiter to bring something for him to drink. "Thandhai hai, Saab. Woh laavun kya?"

"You mean cold drink? Yes. I was asking for the same" said ASR looking extremely exasperated for one single evening.

"Achcha hai! Bring one more or rather two more." said ASR after tasting the drink.

"Sir, aaj aap bahut Bhaang peechuke. Six glasses toh hogaye. Aur chahiye kya?" the waiter getting more and more disturbed with each glass of thandai he was serving.

"Sirf ek! Aajke saare party mein mujhe yehi cheez achchi lagi." ASR becoming chummier and chummier with the waiter with each glass he took.

Everybody was having a gala time on the terrace flying kites with KKG going literally crazy, "Sameer, aur upar! Woh patang katna!Hamari patang toh sabse upar hona chahiye. Akhir Lucknow wale hai hum", when she was cut short in the full flight of her fantasy by a big, green kite which cut their kite. She turned back to look whose it was when she found ASR standing behind her.

(Coming up next ASR and his Sher-o-Shayari on our dear KKG)

The Contract of Hearts: A FF (Continued)

Part VI: ASR KA SHAYARANA ANDAAZ

"Aap? Yahaan?" Khushi enquired.

"Haan Main. Main nahi aa saktha kya?" ASR replying in a very unique 'jhoom-barabar jhoom-barabar jhoom-barabar-jhoom' andaz which KKG had never witnessed before.

"Kuch hua kya? Aap theek se kade bhi nahi hoparahe hai?" Khushi, by this time, had noticed, and was expressing her suspicions about this unstable state of ASR which she had never seen before.

"See! How perfectly I am standing on my feet!" ASR retorted, suddenly inspired by Baba Ramdev, and in a mood for the practice of Shavasana, the sleeping pose.

"ASR uttiye. Sab log dekh rahe hain. Kya sochenge aapki aisi halat dekhkar?" Sameer trying to drive some sense into Arnav's head, alas in vain! He whispered to Khushi, "Yeh toh bhaang ke nashe mein dundh hai. Jaldi isko yahan seh leh jana padega."

Khushi rooted to one spot on hearing this, "Kya? ASR aur bhaang? Yeh kaise ho sakta hai? Raaakshas aur upar seh bhaang! Hum toh gaye kam seh!"

"Rabbaveee Rabbave Rabbbaaave" Arnav, at his besure best, putting all the street beggars to shame with his out of tune and out of pitch-singing.

Khushi, trying to smoothen things, "Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have to go now. It's late-"

"What? So soon! The night is still young", Arnav sounding very disappointed at the speedy closure of a Nite to which he had begun to warm up just now.

"Mile sur mera tumharaaa ooo sur bane hamaraaa ooo", Arnav, beginning what was to be his first concerto in life.

Arnav arzing his audience "Arz kiya hai, yeh ishq nahi hai aasaan, aag ka dariya hai, aur usme doob jana hai", and went crashing into a fat and portly gentleman who was standing beside him, drowning along with him to the ground to lend even more credence and verisimilitude to the Sher.

Turning to Khushi, who by this time was shivering with fear about what next ASR had up his sleeves, when Arnav asked, "Kya hoh tum?"

"Kya?" asked Khushi by this time both anxious and curious about what ASR had to say.

"Koi machchar joh chusstha hai meri dhil ki dhadkan,

ya koi chooha joh mere dhil mein chupkar baahar aane ka nam hi nahi letha,

ya thum ek accident ho joh meri zindagi banchuki hoh,

ya tum woh hoh ziske sath mera dhil se dhil ka rishta hai,

kya tum sirf meri ho jisse is duniyaki koi bhi takkat juda nahi kar sakti,

kya tum meri duva hoh ya sazha,

kya hoh tum mere liye, kya hoh tum---------- " recited ASR before falling faint from the sheer exhaustion caused by all this poetic imagery.

Sameer said to Khushi, "I'll drop both of you today. You know ASR is not in a position to---, and Khushi, one more thing, you are the luckiest girl on earth to have somebody like ASR in your life", after witnessing the whole scene.

That night, Akaash received a call from KKG, "Akaashji, can you please come to the back door. It's an emergency."

Akaash, sounding very disturbed, "Everything all right? You went out for the Jalebi Night. What happened? Why back door and not the front one?"

Khushi telling Akaash, "Come and see for yourself. I can't explain anything at this moment."

(To be continued soon with ASR ki prem diwani duppatta, and chandan ki lep lagaakar Khushi giri Arnav ke baahon mein)

The Contract of Hearts: A FF (Continued)

(Sorry even this update is short but will continue soon with a longer one)

Part XX: THE TWO MAGICAL COUPLES

MSK aka. Mr. Maan Singh Khurana, a self-made man, highly principled, extremely dedicated to his work, and his beautiful wife Geet; this was the man who was sponsoring Sparkles 2011. A man who was known for his very short fuse in dealing with outsiders and business partners as opposed to his extreme patience in his personal relationships was going to work with AR for this event.

ASR was carefully examining all the documents and plans prepared by Khushi for the event for any loopholes. Even though she was quirky with regard to many things, ASR knew that he could not fault her work. It was just that her way of working, handling things and her general attitude towards life were radically different from him.

ASR giving a pep talk to Khushi about MSK and the Khurrana Constructions prior to her presentation. He said, "This is a unique joint initiative between KC and AR to bring out the creative talent in the fashion industry throughout Asia. We have chosen Singapore for its unique and strategic location as a fashion hub. KC is in the construction business and has several international projects with the most famous fashion houses in Singapore and all over Asia. AR has also signed several tie-ups and contracts with some of the leading designers in Singapore. Hence we have been asked by KC to manage this event which will be the first ever of its kind. We've our plans ready. Not nervous, are you? This is an important meeting. I hope you can manage your bit of the presentation."

Khushi reassured ASR, "Don't worry! I'm all ready and prepared for the meeting. By God's grace we'll rock it!" with full poise and self-belief. That day, in the meeting, ASR and KKG outlined the whole set-up of the event to MSK who was greatly impressed by their good work. He appreciated, "Good work. I think we can go ahead with this plan you have outlined. And one more thing, -----both of you make a fantastic team. You complement and complete each other really well!"

While they were discussing some of the finer details of the event, they heard an accusatory voice saying, "You left without telling me! So I've come here myself ------------Surprised?"

All of them looked up to see who this was, when MSK went up to the lady and led her by the hand to where they were sitting and introduced, "My charming and beautiful wife, Mrs. Geet Singh Khurrana, the owner of Khurrana Constructions. And darling, this is Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada and Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta from AR with whom we are about to organize Sparkles 2011. We were just finalizing the final details."

ASR greeting Geet, "Glad to meet you, Mam"

Geet heartily replied, "Call me Geet. I dislike the word, Mam. It makes me feel distant" and continued "Now that I'm here; I think the four of us are going to have a blast. If the meeting is done shall we go out for some site-seeing and shopping?"

Maan agreed with great alacrity, "Your wish is my command! ASR and Ms. Khushi please join us. We'll be happy for your company."

Throughout the day, Geet had been observing ASR and Khushi who were with them from the corner of her eye. Maan had told her that both of them were engaged to each other. But her sixth sense told her that everything was not right with this couple. "A couple in love, all alone in a beautiful country like Singapore would not behave like this pair of chumps", she told herself. "But why fear when Geet is here! I'll talk to Khushi at an opportune moment when Maan and ASR are not around! Looks like time for some 'Geetopadesh' (Advice from the Bhagawad Gita-here in this context, advice from Geet) has come"

(To be continued with Geet as Khushi's agony aunt giving her Pyar ke Super Hit Formulae from her own experience in life)