OS - Dupatta, Part XIV, posted on 1/11 - Page 11

Ouch cut jayega be careful, he said, turning around and walking away before Khushi could react or read his expressions….

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Khushi clutched her jhola as she took her seat next to him in the SUV, saying silent prayers as he started the car, she was truly afraid now, as it is she was leaving her known territory and secondly he had a terrible temper, if he could keep the same in leash because he knew his family was too fond of Khushi, they would be upset to see her hurt…

As he drove out, Khushi waved at the family, they were going somewhere in the mountains, a place called Chail, it seems one of his clients has a cottege there and would be delighted if he uses it for his honeymoon. Arnav did not leave immediately, he had work he said, some last moment orders for the festive season…Khushi thought he purposely did it, even Anjali didi had her doubts, Naniji said 'what last moment orders Chhote, with wedding season around the corner you will say mujhe marne ka bhi time nehi hai, then you will have Christmas, New year and what not….what is the use of keeping so many staff jab koi kaam hi nehi ata…..

Arnav looked at Khushi, Khushi averted her glance, she did see Anjali didi biting her lips trying to control her smile….Naniji, with Lavanya gone I really have to look into some things….

Miss Kashyap? Woh koi kaam bhi karti thi……

Nanijiii!!!

Anyway Khushi understood his intentions, her heart thumped, the cat and mouse game has started…seat belt laga lo, he said bringing her back from her thoughts, Khushi fumbled with the belt, making an irritation sound, he parked the car in the curb and pulled the belt across her, Khushi held her jhola on her bosom….

Haath nikalo, he growled, reluctantly Khushi raised her hands, he clipped on the raising his hand in a gesture as if to say he has done it without touching her…it was early morning, getting out of the city did not take much time, Arnav was listening to some 'inglis' music which Khushi hardly understood, she watched the landscape which was also not interesting as they were yet to hit the highway….

I was thinking if we could have gone to Lucknow, I could have introduced you with all my childhood friends, Khushi suddenly spoke, it was difficult for her to bear the silence for long….

Firstly my memories of Lucknow are not very good and secondly agar humlog Lucknow jate toh you would have vanished somewhere aur mujhe gol gol ghumna parta to trace you….

Khushi curled her lips, aww jab Lucknow nehi pasand hai toh why did you buy sheesh mahal….

I never said I don't like Lucknow, I said 'my memories are not good' aur Sheesh Mahal toh mai kiski ko….he left the rest unsaid, looking at his expression Khushi knew it was a topic she better avoid…not knowing what else to do Khushi looked outside to stare at the boring landscape wondering when will the houses end and open space will come…her eyes closed….

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Muttering to curses made Khushi open her eyes, she felt nice and warm, even comfortable, Khushi wanted to snuggle a bit more when she realized where she was, sleeping on the shoulders of Arnav Singh Raizada!! Khushi sat up, where am I…..she exclaimed involuntarily to see a the snow capped mountain, clear blue sky and a horde of sheep blocking there way….

Thank god on a Dushera day tum par koi pawandi nehi hai…Arnav muttered to himself, Khushi turned to look at his face, it was expressionless but then her cheeks became red, momentarily loss of words she blurted….aren't the sheep looking cute….

Hardly, one at home gives me enough heart attack saving my plants from it and now here I am stranded….

The one at home is not a sheep it is…

A four legged animal it is, vegetarian four legged animal….

Khushi climbed down from the car, chasing the sheeps, cuddling the young ones and making way for him to pass, he waited at the other end for her to join, Khushi took her own time speaking to sheep keeper asking where does he live, the man indicated with his hand saying other side of the mountains….

Khushi jaldi karo, he barked….

Tanik rukiye ji, kitna sundar jagah hai…lets enjoy the unpolluted air, the awesome view …..

Khushi we have to reach within lunch time to catch hold of the care taker…nehi toh he will leave for his village, the owner of the cottage could not contact him for the man has lost his mobile recently….come on hurry up…..

Matlab hum tum ek kamre be band aur chabi kho jaye??!! The very thought chilled Khushi's bones, she ran to join him….

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--MALE--

Baahar se koi andar na aa sake

Andar se koi baahar na jaa sake

Socho kabhi aisa ho to kya ho - 2

Hum tum ek kamre mein band ho, aur chaabi kho jaaye - 2

--FEMALE--

Tere nainon ki bhoolbhulaiya mein Bobby kho jaaye

Hum tum ek kamre mein band ho, aur chaabi kho jaaye

--MALE--

Aage ho ghanghor andhera

--FEMALE--

Baba mujhe darr lagta hai

--MALE--

Peechhe koi daaku lootera

--FEMALE--

Hm, kyoon darra rahe ho

Baahar se koi andar na aa sake

Andar se koi baahar na jaa sake

Socho kabhi aisa ho to kya ho - 2

Hum tum ek kamre mein band ho, aur chaabi kho jaaye - 2

The cottage was a bit isolated nestled amongst the hills, they had to ask the way to locate it, once the went down the narrow lane, they reached its gate, Khushi looked around….how come from the road the cottage cannot be seen, Arnav unlocked the gate, the cottage was obviously looking deserted….

Koi nehi hai lagta hai….Khushi observed in a small voices….

Hmm if only you would not have been chasing the animals and stopping to feel water of the waterfalls…..

As usual my fault, Khushi rolled her eyes, people are forgetting today is Dushera and caretakers are also entitled to celebrate a few festivals….

As Arnav unlocked the cottage he stopped…ha very true yeh baath toh tum pehle hi keh sakti thi, I mean it did not cross my mind, I am hardly religious….

As if he was ready to listen to her…

The cottage was cute, not very big, looked well kept and very comfortable on top of it, it had an awesome view, the snow capped mountain took Khushi's breath away, she too became speechless admiring it, standing in the balcony, she could see the snow range as far as her eyes could go….

Khushi….can we go and have lunch, I am too hungry……

Grrr what a man!! Does not even enjoy such a beauty….I think the cottage is well stocked…Khushi replied...

I am too hungry to wait for food to be ready, there is a palace hotel not very far from here, lets go there, they have a nice restaurant too…

He walked out, Khushi ran to follow him, you know this place…..

Hmmm I do once stayed in that hotel, we had a show….he reply was precise and to the point….not a word more, no appreciation, what he was looking at she had no idea…they walked up the path, Khushi already going breathless to keep pace with him, hai devi ma you walk real fast….

I do trademill everyday, he replied in stern voice….

Oh you really, never knew that!!

There is a gym near my office I go as per convenience but when you have made the effort of knowing me Khushi…….

I…me…I…Khushi stopped, they had reached the hotel…..

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Khushi watched him, sitting on the rocking chair next to the fireplace with an open book on his chest, he was in deep sleep, the clock had struck 9, it was dinner time, much as Khushi dreading the night, she knew she had to wake him up for dinner, the whole day he was at his best behavior, taking her for the Dushera procession,the small town became abuzz with activity, unlike the city things were much simpler but beautiful, watching Ravan being lit up, fireworks display, he stood watching the scenes, won't you take any photographs, Khushi remarked…hmmm absorb it Khushi, photographs will fade but this will remain forever with you, dil se dekho …no Khushi had no complains but as the night fell, time to go to bed…..

remain forever with you, dil se dekho …no Khushi had no complains but as the night fell, time to go to bed…..

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Arnav pushed back the curtains of the bedroom, outside was pitch dark, except for the twinkling of stars, once in a while a firecracker lighting up the sky from somewhere in the hills…..he loved it that way, the candle lit room, he waited for Khushi to come in, standing in the shadows….

It is an old excuse but it works, Lavanya told Khushi prior to leaving home, when she had called up on getting to know about the marriage, Chamkili tere saath mere kuch aur hi rista hai, mujhe out of sight out of mind maath kar dena….saying a small prayer Khushi entered the room, to see him waiting for her in the candle lit room….

Khushi raised her hand to switch on the light to break the effect, Khushi NO…he said ….

Abh…Ok as you say….Khushi marched to the bed, picking up her pillow she walked to the settee…

Arnav blocked her way…Navratri is over, today is Dushera…..

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Anjali sipped her coffee, the caf was jammed packed, to speak you had to raise your voice to the highest pitch, inspite of everything Anjali was enjoying it, sipping coffe silently, opposite to her sat Dev, today as she finished her walk, he was entering the park, can we have coffee somewhere in the evening, he asked suddenly….

Errr today is Dushera….she replied with a bit of hesitation….

Hmmm at 6 in the evening at the 'Coffee Xchange" what say?

I guess it is alright, I will reach there, we can sit next to the glass wall overlooking the park, atleast get to see the firecrackers going up….

I will wait for you….

See you then in the evening, Anjali smiled

My name is Dev….

Anjali…nice to meet you Dev…..

He was waiting for her when she arrived at 6 p.m. ….After a couple of rounds of coffee, one round of hot chocolate fudge, Dev said, Anjali I have a past, which has made me wry of women, but then I feel you are different, I would like to know you a bit more though I cannot promise you anything at the moment….

Anjali looked at the sky, a cracker going up and sprinkling many stars…Dev what is the hurry, you may have noticed how best I try to walk fast I can only limp….

Dev smiled…..Anjali reciprocated so he felt just like her that she is a bit different….

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I know it is Dushessa Khushi raised her hands in exasperation, but I have …you know …I am….

Oh Khushi, now what?

I have my periods…..Khushi turned red….she never had to tell a man before….

Periods? Exclaimed Arnav….

I think you would know what it is….I mean you must have studied in school…about…about….

Clenching his jaws, he cursed damn damn damn, you should have told me...

You never asked ...Khushi hid her glee...

Arnav stomped towards the bed, blowing out the candle flopped on to the bed, leaving Khushi stranded in the middle, my my Lavanyaji this surely does work!! Khushi went to the settee…

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Manorama Mami looked at the watch, Anjali was late in returning home, dinner will be announced in a few minutes and her saas, the overbearing woman would ask thousands of questions to the poor girl, she has not taken the car, saying going around the corner and today unlike other day's she even reveal with whom she has got a meeting…strange…Manorama came to stand on Arnav's terrace, thank god, Laat Governor was not there….within a few seconds she saw Anjali coming but who the hell is with her, they were standing at the gate and having a chat…Manorama could not curb a curiosity, she flew down the stairs towards the main door, after all these years a man was seen at the gate seeing off Anjali, who could that be….

Manorama where are you going at this hour…Nani called from behind…

Hello hai bye bye peechhe se tok diya aapne….

Kaunsa mahan kaam karne ja rahi thi? Nani persisted….

Jane deti toh dekhti kaunsa ladka aya Anjali ko chhorne….

Ladka? Nani frowned

Shhh sasuma….If I have seen correctly that is….

When did you see anything wrong..Nani became sarcastic, just then the bell rang and Anjali entered….ayo Beti, Jai Prakash, Anjali is back, lay the table for dinner….

Nani I am too full for dinner, if you will excuse me….

Too full, bataya nehi that you will not be having dinner….Nani frowned

Err Nani actually …I mean I did not have dinner but too much of coffee…I think I will retire early today….kal walk pe toh jana hai…..

Both Manorama and Nani observed Anjali going towards her room, didn't she have a glow in a face, both the ladies observed but did not say anything to each other….

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kabhii to sub'h tere kunj-e-lab se ho aaGhaaz
kabhii to shab sar-e-kaakul se mushk-baar chale

(When will we wake into the morning,
To the sweet sound from your lips,
And when in the evening will we rest,
Taking in the scent of your hair)

(A para from Faiz's ghazal, courtesy KB2010)

Khush's eyes flew open, the whole cottage was shaking, she saw lightening flashing across the mountains followed by ear splittering thunder….Khushi never liked stoms, the only thing she was afraid of so to speak and dead in the night, middle of nowhere winds growling was making her sick already, in the midst of everything she heard Arnav's soft snoring, goodness gracious me, yeh toh kumbkarne ki tarah sowta hai….Khushi crept on and went to the bed, slid next to Arnav, lying close to him she thought let the storm pass first and before he knows I will go back to the settee….the storm grew louder, the window panes shook, hail storm splattered at the window….Khushi clutched Arnav's arm, after what seemed like endless hour, the storm started to subside, Khushi thought it was time for her to go back to the settee when the arm came and pinned her to himself….

Khushi lay still, he slept on but his arm did not budge, Khushi closed her eyes sometime during the night she felt a peculiar sensation going through her body, Arnav Singh Raizada was awake!! Khushi tried to push him away as his hands crept under her dress, Khushi caught his hand, his released himself using his strength and carried on with his quest after sometime Khushi reached out and ran her fingers through his hair, Arnav growled getting on top of her, they forgot the obvious….

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The singing of birds, sound of utencils made Khushi open her eyes, she was still lying on the bed feeling lethargic, wishing she could sleep a bit more then she remembered last night, her thoughts made her spring up on the bed only to dive back pulling the cover up, Arnav was standing at the window turned….

I never knew Khushi you can lie, yes you are a big trouble at times but then I thought pretention and making up stories is something Khushi Kumar never indulges in…

Hardly a kumari anymore, Khushi grumbled to herself toh mai kya karti Arnav Singh Raizada ? I never liked your ways, aaj Lavanya hai, kal Khushi a gayi, porso koi Reema, uske baaad koi Rinki, Pinky wagera wagera…Khushi was angry with him but more upset with herself for losing her control and letting him take over….

I am married to you damn it!!

It is just a piece of paper Mr Raizada, do you understand the difference of living together and being married?

Why not…tum kya sochte ho…..

Just then his mobile rang, Arnav tried to ignore but the ring meant it was from his home….Ji Nani he was forced to answer…

Ji what?...I did not get you, come again please….Arnav exclaimed, clearly hearing a more shocking news!!

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