Ch 8 Updated Page 18! Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi--Arhi FF - Page 5

"Aap pakka aayenga na kal? Humara paas ek bauhat bari surprise hai aap ki liye! Aap kal aarti shuru hone se pehle aajaye ga. Aacha tikh tikh hai, hum rakhte hain." Anjali finished speaking to her husband on the phone. Shyam was yet to find that Arnav had gotten married, and that too to Khushi. Anjali put the phone down and sat down next to Khushi on the sofa. "Khushi," Anjali began smiling, "Voh kal aa raha hai! Finally tumhari unse mulakaat hongi."

"Areh, yeh toh bauhat achi baat hui! Hum bhi toh Jijaji se milna chahte hain." Khushi replied with a smile.

It was a quarter to seven when Khushi began setting the table for dinner. "Chote aur Akash ab thodi der mein aate hi honge," assured Anjali. "Ji," replied Khushi.

At exactly seven o'clock, both Arnav and Akash walking into Raizada Mansion with briefcases in hand. Arnav was speaking to a client on the phone, "Ji Mr. Malhotra. Main kal tak aap ko saare files behj doonga. Bye."

"Aaj toh bauhat bhook lagi hain. Aur agar bhabi ne khaana banaya na, toh bauhat bauhat bauhat bhook lagi hain!" Akash praised Khushi's cooking while taking his seat along with the others.

"Bas Akash bhaiya, aap hume sharminda maat kariye." Khushi told Akash as she began serving food to everyone. Everyone ate dinner while conversing about their day. "Bhabi," began Akash, "Vaise, bhai hamesha shakti se baat karte hain, lekin aaj jab office mein aap ke bare mein sab pooch rahe te na, tab bhai aise sharma raha tha ke dehkne layak tha!

At this, everyone, but Arnav and Khushi, broke out into laughter. Arnav put on a stern look and looked down at his plate and began eating. Khushi hesitatingly took her seat next to Arnav. After dinner everyone seated down in the living area. Akash sat next to Nani on one sofa, Mami and Mami took the other sofa, and Anjali sat down on the sofa across from Mami, leaving only one seat open; the one next to her. Khushi was in the kitchen when Arnav was passing by the rest of the family. "Chotey! Tum kaha ja rahe ho?" enquired Anjali.

"Di, mujhe bauhat kam hai. Main upar ja raha hoon," replied Arnav. But Anjali wasn't going to give up that easily. "Ek minute Chotey. Tumhari shaadi hui ki ek din bi nahi hua aur tum toh busy ho gaya. Aaj tum humare saath betho. Kuch waqt apni family ki saath bitawo. Aajao," Anjali gestured to the seat next her. Just then Khushi walked into the living room with a tray full of small bowls, each one filled with delicious kheer. Akash was excited to say the least. "Bhabi, agar aap aise yummy khaana hume kilayengi na, toh hum mote ho janenge." Laughter was heard all around. Khushi handed each family member a bowl. When Arnav's turn came he said, "Me yeh nahi kha sakta."

Khushi's face lit up and she smiled, "Hum ne aap ki liye sugar-free banaya hain." She looked nervously as he took a spoonful in his mouth. "Kaisa bana hai? Voh hum ne pehli baar aisa banaya na is liye. Aacha nahi hai na! Humko pata tha, aap ko nahi pasand aayega, " Khushi began bantering.

"Tum kuch waqt chup reh sakti ho kya?" asked Arnav sarcastically. "Agar tumhari baat katam hui toh mein tumhe yeh batata hoon ke kheer aacha bana hai."

"Ji, thank you." Khushi thanked him shyly.

"Hello hi bye bye!" Mami exclaimed, making Khushi nervous. She did have knack for tearing Khushi down. "Kheer bauhat achcha bana hai, Khushi…bitiyan. Sach mein." Khushi was overwhelmed with happiness at this. She couldn't believe it! Maybe this whole marriage thing wasn't so bad after all. Everyone in the house loved her, and the one person that didn't spent most of his day working. After all, Arnav had been civil to her all day. Khushi then felt awkward as she realized she there was no seat open for her to sit down. Anjali noticed this and said "Chotey! Yeh kya baat hui! Khushi ne tumhare liye khaas kheer banaya or aaj subhe usne tumhe apne haaton se khilaya. Toh ab tum bhi apni biwi ko khilawo. I'm sure tumhe yaad toh hoga, jab mera aur tumhare Jijaji ki shaadi hui. Usne hume apni godh me bitha kar khilaya tha. Yaad aaya? Toh baas ab tum yeh tradition samajh ke Khushi ko apne godh me bitha kar khilawo. Chalo na!" Anjali urged Arnav. Arnav wasn't having any of it. He retorted, "Di yeh sab kya hai? This is enough." Anjali smirked and said, "Tikh hai, toh tum aise nahi manonge." And with that she grabbed Khushi's armed and tugged her backwards so she fell right into her husband's lap. Her legs fell perpendicular to his and her back rested against the armrest of the sofa. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck and his hand automatically snaked around her waist. They looked into each other's eyes, Khushi's timid hazel ones, and his passionate brown set. Nani was looking at them admiringly, while Akash let out a small chuckle. Mami nudged Mami and now everyone was smiling at the scene.

"Ahem," Anjali interrupted. "Vaise tum dono na, yeh aankon mein dekhna, vhagera, vhagera, kamre mein continue karna. Lekin, ab Chotey, tum Khushi ko khilawo. Chalo na.!"

Arnav and Khushi snapped out of their trance and Khushi slowly let her arms fall from Arnav's neck into her own lap. Arnav released his grip from her waist and grudgingly took the spoon and filled it with kheer. Khushi leaned toward the spoon and took a bite.

"Kehta hai ki jab pati aur patni ek hi spoon se khaana khathe hain, toh pyaar badta hain," said Anjali.

After another hour or so of quality family time, everyone proceeded to their respective bedrooms after bidding goodnight. Arnav and Khushi went upstairs and Arnav pushed to door behind him, thinking it closed shut, when it was still a centimeter open. Khushi changed into her baby pink night salwar in the bathroom while Arnav changed into black sweat pants and a white v-neck shirt. At the moment, Arnav wasn't thinking about how annoyed he was with the constant teasing about his marriage, nor was he thinking about Anjali's ability to make things as awkward as possible for him and his wife. He saw her walk out of the bathroom and he was mesmerized to say the least. She was wearing but a simple salwar kameez and no makeup. All she had on was her smudged sindoor, her mangalsutra, and his mothers kangans. He remember how Lavanya couldn't even go 20 minutes without needed a touch up and how she was always over-dressed. Khushi's beauty was natural. She had an air of innocence to her form that he had never seen on Lavanya. She was beautiful, and he could see it. He snapped out of his deep thoughts when Khushi's voice called to him. "Arnavji! Arnavji! Aapne suna? Humko ek blanket ki zaroorat hain."

"Oh, haan voh cupboard main hain," answered Arnav.

"Ji thank you. Voh hain na ki hume raat mein taand lagti hain. Iss liye…" Khushi stated.

Both of them silently went to their respective places to sleep. Arnav laid down on his bed, while Khushi covered herself with a blanket on the sofa.

"Areh! Laxmi! Kaha jaa rahi hain aap! Laxmi!" Anjali yelled as she chased after Laxmi. Laxmi headed for Arnav and Khushi's bedroom as was able to get inside as the door was never shut tightly. Anjali followed Laxmi and was shocked at the sight. Both Arnav and Khushi jolted upwards as they saw a horrified Anjali standing in the doorway. Laxmi passed by Anjali's legs and left the room.

"Di voh…actually…" Arnav began to explain.

"Chotey? Yeh sab kya hain? Tum dono ek saath kyun nahi soh rahe?" Anjali tried to remain calm. "Javab do!" she shouted.

"Di voh, hum ek bed main kaise…" Arnav continued.

"Matlab? Kya tumhara matlab yeh hai ke tum dono puri zindagi alag alag bistaron pe soyenge? Maaf karde na chotey, hum yeh baat keh rahe hain, lekin majboor hain hum. Kya tum bhool gaye Papa ne kya kiya tha Ma ki saath? Tum voh galti kar rahe ho jo Papa ne kiya tha. Aur tum jaante ho Ma ki zindagi kaise ulajgayi uss ek galti ki vaje se. Nahi! Hum Khushi ki saath voh nahi hoone doonga jo maa ki saath hua." Anjali walked up to Arnav and grabbed his hand. She brought his hand up and rested it on her head. Tearing up at the thought of her parents, Anjali spoke, "Kasam khao apni Di per ki tum aur Khushi aaj se ek hi bistar pe sohyenge. Vada karo, ke Khushi ko apni patni maan kar, apne bed mein sone denga. Vada karo ke tum Khushi ko neglect nahi karenga. Vada karo ke tum Papa ki galti nahi karoge. Apni Di ki kasam," Anjali finshed as a few tears trickled down her face.

"Di. Main aap ki liye kuch bhi karne ki liye taayar hoon. Please don't cry. I understand ke aap pareshan hai kyunki aap yeh nahi chahti ke mein papa jaise koi galti karu. I'm sorry. Aaj se main aur Khushi ek hi bed pe sohyenge. Khush?"replied Arnav.

Anjali pulled Arnav and Khushi into a bear hug and they both responded lovingly. With Anjali over both their shoulders, Arnav and Khushi looked at each other behind Anjali's head. After Anjali left the room, Arnav climbed into bed and looked at Khushi. "Tum voh side le lo. Mujhe yeh side his pasand hai," Arnav instructed Khushi. Khushi made her way to the right side of the bed feeling awkward. She pulled the covers over her body and felt a strange feeling. It wasn't a bad feeling, but a new feeling.

Precap: Khushi had reached for the aarti and as her hands were hovering right above the flame, she saw him. She couldn't believe her eyes. In her shock, she had forgotten her hands were now in full contact with the flames of the aarti. "Khushi!" screamed Arnav.