When Khushi came into the dining room, Arnav asked caustically, "Had fun did you,"
Khushi flused slightly and said "Yes, it was kind of nice with Jiji and Akash and Dhruv".
Arnav asked "So what plans have you made with them tomorrow?"
Khushi looked at him in surprise, "There are no plans for tomorrow," and she saw Arnav's face relax.
"Did Dhruv come to your place often in Lucknow?" Arnav asked.
Khushi looked at him even more in awe. "Yeah! Why do you ask? He was close to our family. In face his whole family was close to ours. Though we were not in the same social class as them, their parents loved amma and babuji. They spent all important occasions with us. They also lived very close to us. But I thought you knew all that. Why are you asking today?"
"Just like that" Arnav said and turned abruptly and left.
"What's wrong with him?" Khushi thought. And then it struck her. Was he jealous? Really? Her heart danced with joy.
For the first time in 6 months she felt fully alive and the mischievous child in her woke up. Laad Givernor was jealous. Oh my god! What a nut!
Didn't he know her heart beat only for him? Her very existence was for him. Though their marriage was a sham, for her it was her dearest dream-come-true. Arnav could be a poor laborer, for all she cared about his money, but she loved him with every fiber in her body. Loved his anger, his loyalty to his family, his compassion hidden in so called cruelty, his goodness hidden in the garb of unfeelingness, his intense emotions for her though she never saw much of it now.
For her it was enough that she breathed in the same house that he lived in. It was enough she saw his dear face first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. It was enough that she could serve him in her own way. Yes she knew she deserved more. But she knew that would come. That had to come. Love never fails.
Today she had seen the first crack in the wall he had built against her. She wasn't letting go of this chance. If jealousy was the weapon, she would use it without harming Dhruv in anyway. May be she would include Dhruv in the plan…Just maybe she thought smiling her naughtiest smile
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
When she entered the bedroom she was humming to herself, much to Arnav's irritation. He pretended to sleep watching her from the corner of his eye. She had changed into pink pajamas and kurta. She looked like a cute baby, he thought and got angry at his thoughts. She was looking at herself in the mirror. Why was she looking at herself so long? Arnav thought furiously. She never did that earlier.
Still humming she turned around and examined her figure in the mirror much to Arnav's amazement. Why was she doing that? Didn't she know she had an hour glass figure? Why this new attention to herself.
Suddenly he heard her voice saying," Arnavji are you asleep?"
He opened his eyes and looked at her," No, tell me?"
Khushi said "I was thinking that day-after-tomorrow is Dhruv's birthday. I want to get him a nice gift. Can you help? I have some money. I am not good at buying men's things. Will you help me buy it?"
"I will buy it and then you can give it. Tell me what you need," he said.
"No no. I want to choose it myself. So, I will come with you," she said and looked at him and added a "Please! He is your cousin too you know".
'What the" he muttered. A gift for Dhruv and she had to choose it. He gave her a jaundiced look and said "I will try" and with that he pulled up the covers and pretended to sleep.
If Arnav had not done that, he would have seen Khushi's wide grin, while she got ready to sleep on the floor…"Laad Governor. Let me see how you stay away from me," she thought and for the first time in ages she slept with a smile on her face…..
Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
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