~Part 21~
Khushi had expected to not sleep a wink that night especially after her midnight outing into the kitchen. Surprisingly, she slept quite fitfully and woke up only at the insistent knocking on her door. She sat up on her bed cursing her decision to finally lock the door. She flipped on the bedside light and hobbled across the room half asleep. She pulled the door open rubbing her eyes and managed to open one eye sleepily.
"Itni subah subah aankh maar rahi ho?" said Arnav, who was dressed and leaning against the side of her door frame.
Hearing his voice, every shred of sleep left Khushi and she was wide awake. She wondered what a sight she must be looking - without her dupatta and her hair all over the place. She controlled the urge to straighten herself out. She felt even more self conscious after seeing that Arnav had already taken a shower and was ready. She forced her sleepy brain for answers. Was she late for work? But, wasn't it Sunday? Isn't it still dark?
She saw Arnav watching her intently. On seeing no response from her, he took a step inside the room. She fought the urge to walk backwards, and said "Kya hua?"
He stood in front of her and said "Tumhe uthaane aaya tha. Mann toh tha ki andar aake achche se tumhe uthaau, par lagta hai pichle do baar ke baad tumne darwaaza band karna seekh liya."
Khushi wished there was some kind of treatment for involuntary blushes. She said "Aapko kuch chahiye tha?"
Arnav's eyes darkened a shade. "Haan chaahiye" he said and took another step inside her room "Mujhe.."
Khushi stepped away from the door and cut him off hastily saying "Humaara matlab hai ki aapne kyu uthaaya hume? Time kya hua hai?"
Arnav looked at her for a couple of moments and said "It's 5:45. Di ne kahaa tumhe uthaane ko. Woh tumhe bataana bhool gayi ki aaj unhe mandir jaana hai. 6:15 tak nikalna hai toh jaldi se nahaake neeche aa jaao."
"O achcha. Theek hai hum abhi nahaake aate hai" She paused and said "Aap bhi aayenge?"
"Kya?" said Arnav, taken aback for a second. Then, when Khushi blushed realizing how that sounded, he continued "Vaise maine nahaa liya hai, lekin tum invite kar rahi ho toh.."
Khushi said hurriedly "Humaara matlab hai mandir.. Aap bhi mandir aayenge?"
"Oh achcha. How disappointing" he smirked. "Haan, Sundays ko mai hi Di ko mandir leke jaata hu. Ab jaldi se tayyaar hoke aao. Mai apne kamre mei hu, ready hoke mujhe bula lena. Saath mei neeche jaayenge."
"Theek hai" said Khushi and went in to get ready. She wondered since when it had become so natural for Arnav to tell her that they'll go together and for her to respond affirmatively without batting an eyelid. She shook her head and rushed in to take a shower. She was just towelling her hair dry when Anjali called out from outside her door.
"Khushi?"
She went and opened the door to let her in. She noticed that Arnav's door was open too. Anjali stepped in smiling at her and said "Hum tumhe bataana hi bhool gaye ki aaj jaldi nikalna hai."
"Arre koi baat nahi Di, Sir ne hume utha diya waqt pe" Khushi replied and continued to dry her hair. Just as she threw her wet hair back, Anjali said looking towards the door "Chote.."
Anjali and Khushi turned in time to see Arnav getting sprinkled with all the water from Khushi's hair. He stopped short in surprise and looked up.
Unthinkingly, Khushi rushed to him and dabbed his face with her towel saying "Sir humne dekha nahi.." she stopped short suddenly realizing what she was doing. At that moment, she wondered who looked more surprised - she or Arnav. "Ji .. er .. hum.." she stammered and stepped back. She looked at her feet and started drying her hair again and refused to look at Arnav or Anjali.
Anjali burst out laughing and then walked towards Arnav, patted his arm and said "Arre Chote tum gussa hona bhool gaye? Khushi ne paani giraya tumhaare upar aur tum chillaana tak bhool gaye?"
Arnav said "Di please.."
"Haan vaise gussa honewaali kaunsi baat hai. Dry bhi toh karaya usne" Anjali smirked.
Arnav was looking at how Khushi completely refused to even turn around and face either of them. He knew she was blushing again without even seeing her face.
Anjali called out to Khushi and said "Khushi, isse zyaada abhi tumhaare baal nahi sukhenge. Jaake dupatta le lo aur nikalte hai."
"Ji" stammered Khushi and rushed to get her dupatta.
"Vaise hume ummeed toh nahi thi ki tum dono mei se ek bhi aaj time pe uthega" said Anjali. "Tumhaare midnight date ke baad.."
"Relax Di" said Arnav "Date toh iska tha. Jalebiyo ke saath. Ajeeb pagal ko ghar pe le aaya mai"
Khushi turned around and glared at him "Aap hume ajeeb bol rahe hai? Aine mei dekhiye pehle" she said "Hum toh gusse mei jalebi khaate hai. Aapki tarah saamnewaale ko hi nahi khaa jaate"
"Kya?!" Arnav said "Mai.."
"Phir se shuru!" said Anjali. "Tum dono na ek doosre se kam paagal nahi ho. Ab chalo"
Arnav glared at Khushi and walked out. Anjali and Khushi too, walked out behind him.
"Naaniji aur Maamiji tayyaar ho gaye?" asked Khushi.
"Woh dono ghar par hi rahengi. Ghar pe bhi toh aarti hogi na" said Anjali.
Arnav had brought the car in front of the house by the time they walked out. Anjali and Khushi walked out towards the car and Khushi went and sat in the front. Anjali grinned broadly as she got into the backseat and found that Arnav, too, didn't notice anything amiss. By the time Khushi realized that she didn't even consider sitting behind, Arnav had started the car. She prayed no one noticed anything.
As always, Arnav waited near his car while Anjali and Khushi finished in the temple and came back. Khushi timidly went to open the back door, when Anjali stopped her and got in herself.
Khushi stammered "Di woh hum.. subah ko.. matlab jaldi mei bhool gaye.."
"Haan haan hum samajh sakte hai. Jab dhyaan nahi rehta toh insaan apni sahi jagah pe hi jaake baidhta hai"
"Di hum.."
"Jaao baitho jaldi se" smiled Anjali and closed her door.
Khushi went and sat in the front seat and said "Chaliye"
Arnav looked at her "Oh chaliye?" he mimicked her tone. "Nahi nahi aap thodi der aur bahar khade hoke gappe maariye. I have all day."
Arnav started the car and Khushi glared at him while Anjali laughed.
On the way, Arnav said "Di mai aur Khushi 8:30 baje niklenge"
"Oh itni jaldi second date?"
"Stop it Di. Office ke liye niklenge"
"Kya? Bilkul nahi Chote. Na tum jaaoge aur na hi Khushi. Ek hi din toh ghar pe rehte ho. Sunday par family ka haq hai."
"Di please, mai.."
"Behas mat karo. Nahi matlab nahi."
Arnav sulked while Khushi was secretly glad that Anjali stopped him. It was when Arnav brought up going to office that it suddenly dawned on her that she would be alone with him in the car. That is when all the events of the previous night came tumbling back into her mind. She had purposely avoided thinking about that. In fact, for once, more than to deal with the issue, she had made jalebies to get her mind off it. She absolutely did not want to think about what happened. The fact that Arnav spelled out for her that he didn't consider it a mistake made her not want to think of what it meant.
She stole a glance at him now. He was concentrating on the road. Her eyes drifted to his lips for a second. Her face heated up and she looked out of the window. She could still remember the feel of those lips on hers. She could still feel his hands on her hair. She could feel his entire body pressed against hers. What had come over her? She held on to him instead of pushing him away - a fact that Arnav pointed out to her in the kitchen later. What was he up to? she thought. He had followed her into the kitchen. Even after he heard Anjali Di's voice, he had the gall to lick the syrup off her lips. He had even kissed her on the cheek before turning in for the night. What the hell was he thinking?
She was still in her thoughts when they reached home. She shook herself and got out of the car and walked into the house with Arnav and Anjali.
~End of Part 21~
Edited by Janet.Das - 14 years ago
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