"Arnav Baba, Anjali didi sent me to find out if you have finished packing, and if I can put your baggage in the car." Hari prakash inquired from the doorway.
"Yes put the baggage in the car but leave the laptop bag I will take it myself." Hari prakash went to pick the bags Arnav asked, "where's Di?"
"downstars in the hall" hari prakash replied and left.
Arnav checked his laptop bag for his files, picked his charger from the bedside table and tucked it in a pocket of the bag. Picking up his Mobil from the coffee table he left the room.
Going down stars he found Anjali with her husband
She turned towards him and said, "Chote? Are you ready to go."
"yes, Di I'm all set" putting his arm around his sister shoulder be added, "I have made all the travel arrangements for you to join me for the Gala reception at the new resort, Aman has all the details,
"That is a month away, Chote will you be ok alone so far away?"
"Di, I'm not a child I can take care of myself, Besides I will not be there alone, I'll be staying at the resort and have the entire staff at my disposal."
"yes, yes I know but I am your Sister and I worry about You"
"Dont, you take care of yourself, so I don't have to worry about you too"
"your jijaji, takes good care of me so you don't have to worry, and you must call everyday I will be waiting for your call." She shook her finger at him in reminder.
"have a safe trip saale sabhib" his brother in law said cordially.
Arnav only nodded, After Khushi had left so suddenly, and Arnav had broken of his engagement plans with Lavanya, Arnav and his brother in law had had a falling out. As far as Arnav knew khushi and his Brother in law had never met. But one morning at breakfast table Shayam had started to chide Arnav for breaking up with Lavanya, he then went on to bad mouth Khushi, questioning her character, wondering and telling Anjali to see if anything was missing from the house. Arnav's Mami kept supporting this comments, Arnav knew that Mami had never liked Khushi as she was not rich.
But when Shayam had called Khushi 'a piece of cheep trash'. Arnav had lost his head and punched Shayam in the nose to the horror of his entire family. He had decaled furiously. "I will not hear one single wrong word about against Khushi," he had then pointed on furious finger at his brother-in-law who was lying on the floor bleeding, "I know Khushi, I know what and who she is, you did not, so don't you dare badmouth her."
He knew he had hurt his sister, but Shayam had no right to talk about Khushi that way, ever since then the two men had maintain a civil attitude towards each other. Arnav sometimes wondered if his Shayam attitude came from something else. On various occasions he had caught a look of pure hatred and loathing when he would catch Shayam watching him. But he didn't understand why, so he had just let it go.
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Khushi returned home exhausted, walking into the living room she kicked of her heal shows, she flopped on the sofa stretching her legs and curling her toes on the living rooms thick rug, Malini walked in from the study office adjoining the living room where she working on some company papers.
"how did the reception go?" Said Malini sitting in the sofa opposite Khushi.
"Great, the parties were highly satisfied, they will deliver the cheque tomorrow morning." sighing she closed her eyes and leaned her head on the backrest.
"Good! So what is next,"
"We have the Saxsana wedding next weekend, and the resort is having a conference for the new owners the evening after tomorrow, but that is a small function the resort staff will manage it, I only have to make sure the carters are there on time." Pushing herself from the couch Khushi started towards the stairs " Arush is asleep?" she inquired
Malini smiled warmly "Yes after insisting on watching 2 hours worth of cartoons" she sighed shaking her head, "there is no getting around him, he just wants what he wants."
Khushi shook her head laughing, he was getting more and more like his father everyday she thought, shaking her head, "I need a shower and then bed, goodnight Maa."
As she stood under the shower, letting the water wash away the soap from her hair and body the tears came running down her cheeks along with the water. Wrapping her arms around her heaving chest she cried. She missed him she thought as the ache in her breast increased, she missed him every day and she wanted him so desperately even after all this time. So many times she tried to console herself that what she did was right and that she should accept her fate, but the ache did not ease and each night the tears would come.
She stepped out of the shower towelling herself dry she wrapped herself in a robe and walked into her bedroom room. Wrapping a towel around her head she left a room and walked into the adjoining bedroom and got into the small bed with the tiny bundle pulling it closer. The small dark head turned and buried itself into her breast a small arm throwing itself around her.
Khushi smiled burying her nose in the child's dark hair she ran a hand lovingly over the child faces. the most adorable face in the world, a tiny miniature image of his father the same strait arrogant nose and stubborn chin, he had his father's eyes she knew, and she was proud that he had her smile. His father had a nice smile too which he rarely used she thought but on the one occasion he had laughed wholeheartedly it had made her heart go wild with pleasure, she smiled at the memory, it pleased her even more that she with all her silliness had brought that laughter to his lips.
Pulling the child with her she got out of the bed and carried him to her bed, pulling the covers over them Khushi fell asleep with her child in her arms. Dreaming of her long lost love.
Indian Idol 15
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