Note: Long update.
Translatio for Part 25
When Khushi enters the bedroom,she finds Arnav busy over the phone.
To her utter surprise,she finds him talking to naniji.
Khushi(thinks): He told me that he wants to speak to Amanji.(worried) I hope he's not telling naniji anything related to di's wedding..
She goes near the window,where Arnav is standing, and gently keeps a hand on his shoulder.
Arnav turns to her and gestures her to wait.
Arnav: Ji nani.(pause)Ji,plz dont worry. I'll inform Khushi, she'll explain everything to Hari Prakash. And if something needs to be bought from the market,I'll tell Mohan to buy and give it to HP.(pause) No,we'll come directly to the airport from here,to pick u all up.(pause)Let me see,nani. If HP isnt able to prepare alone for the dinner,then I'll first drop Khushi home and then come to the airport.
Khushi(thinks): Looks like Rakshitji's family is along coming along.Hey Devi Maiyya! Which saree which I wear? None of my favourite sarees are ironed/washed.
Arnav ends the call and turns to Khushi,only to find her muttering to herself.
Arnav: What happened?R u worried about something?
Khushi: Was thinking about what I would wear in the evening? They're coming to r house for the first time and I'm the elder DIL,so.. I should wear something nice. Else what will Rakshitji's family think about me?
Arnav(confused): What? Why should they think anything about u?
Khushi: What did naniji say?Isnt Rakshitji coming home tonight along with his family?
Arnav: Nope! I'd called to tell her to call buaji.
Khushi(confused): Buaji?Y?
Arnav: Bcoz I wanted to invite ur.. I mean our relatives for dinner! I thought if I am to invite them,it may not look proper.Hence I asked nani to call buaji and invite all of them to r place for dinner!
Khushi(relieved): Then its ok! Actually.. Arnavji,u shouldnt have done that. I mean,all of them will b tired with the journey and then the moment they'll enter the house,they'll have to meet the guests. They wont b able to take rest..
Arnav: Khushi,first we'll pick them up from the airport n drop them to Shantivan. Then I'll come here n Mohan will come in the other car n pick everyone from here. So by the time these ppl reach Shantivan,those ppl would get time to freshen up!
U dont have to worry about all that! U just instruct HP about the menu n stuff.. I'll b back soon!
He leaves the room without telling where he was going.
Khushi calls HP and tells him about the menu and dictates a list of items to b brought from the store.
Then she calls Mohan and informs him to take the list from HP and Aakash's car and fetch all the necessary items.
*****
Khushi(coming out of the room): Amma..
Amma: Yes bitiya?
Khushi: Hav u seen Arnavji?
Amma: Yes,he's sitting with Deepak bitwa in the room.Ramaa bahuriya has gone for a bath,hence damadji's sitting with him.
Khushi: Ok.Do u need any help?
Amma: Ya,u just.. peel these peas and once Sumi bitiya brings paneer,u prepare matar paneer,ok bitiya?
Khushi: Ji.
She takes the peas from her and goes to buaji's room.
Arnav is gazing so intently at a sleeping Deepak that he doesnt even notice his wife's presence in the room.
Khushi: Arnavji..?
Arnav: When did.. u come?
Khushi: Just now.R u ok?
Arnav: Ya,I'm fine.
Khushi sits on the other side of the bed,near Arnav and starts peeling the peas.
Khushi: U.. were looking lost hence I.. asked.If anything is bothering u,u can share it with me.R u still upset with di's marriage..?
Arnav: Not at all!
Khushi: Then what is it?
Just then Ramaa enters the room and Khushi is forced to keep quiet.
Ramaa: Thank u nandoiji! Now u go n take rest in ur room,I'll sit here with Munna!
Arnav nods.
As he is about to exit the room,he stops and turns to Ramaa.
Ramaa: What happened?
Arnav: Will u.. do me a favour?
Ramaa: Ya sure! Tell me,what do u want?
Arnav: do u know how to make Jauzi halwa?
Ramaa: Yes,of course,I know! What happened?R u feeling like having it?
Arnav: Ya. a.. Will u.. plz prepare it for me?
Ramaa: Ya,y not!? U have asked me to make something for u for the first time,so its my duty to prepare it for u! U plz call ur bhaisaab n tell him to bring samnak n khoya!N.. 2 packets of milk!
Arnav(confused): Samnak..?
Ramaa: Wheat.. the thing which is used to make the halwa!
Arnav: O..ohk,I got it! N I know what is khoya! I'll bring it myself!
Ramaa: Areh,y do u bother nandoiji? They have gone out anyways,so ask them, they'll bring it. I.. wouldve called ur bhaisaab but.. he's angry with me so..
Arnav: No no! I'll bring those things myself.(turns to Khushi)Khushi,where will I get all this?
Before Khushi could answer,Ramaa nearly screams.
Ramaa: Hey Ramji! I completely forgot! Nandoiji.. u r not supposed to eat sweets, right?So then... how..?
Khushi: dont worry bhabhi,sugarfree is there at home!That thing which is used in place of sugar? I'll give that to u,u can use that for the halwa!
Arnav: Great! Then I'll go n fetch the ingredients. Khushi..?
Khushi: Right opposite Lakshminagar's gate there's a grocery store,there u'll get samnak and.. u bring not 2,but 5 packets of milk,I'll make khoya at home!
Arnav(elated): Fantastic! I'll just b back!
Khushi: Ji.
*****
Ramaa: What happened Khusi? Nandoiji suddenly seemed very happy,didnt he? Looks like he loves this halwa!
Khushi: No bhabhi. He likes rice pudding. And u wont believe me,but never before have I even heard him mention this sweet!
Ramaa(shocked): Really?
Khushi: Ji! And never before has he asked me to cook something for him! I myself was shocked to see him all excited about this halwa!
Ramaa: May b he felt like having it today.. (smiles)whatever! Now I'll most definitely prepare it for him!
Buaji(from the living room): Aye Parmeswari! Ur mobile is ringing..
Khushi: Excuse me, bhabhi..
Ramaa: Ya!
******
Buaji: Look! It stopped ringing!
Khushi: who was it buaji?
Buaji: Who knows? See it urself!And listen,go n hav a bath. Its almost 9 n u know about the water. Once its 10,u wont even get a drop of it! Before that,u,Arnav babua n the rest of them,when they come back,u all need to have a bath!
Khushi(dialing Anjali's no.): Ji..
*******
Anjali: Hello.. Chhoti?
Khushi: Ya di,tell me?
Anjali: Where is Chhotey? I tries his phone,but he's not picking it up. Is everything ok?
Khushi: Ya di,everything is fine! He's gone to the grocery store to bring something.
Anjali(shocked): What?! Chhotey has gone to the grocery store?! I cant believe this! BTW,(teases)what hav u asked him to bring for urself?
Khushi: Not for me,di,he's gone there to bring something for himself! Today suddenly he felt like having Jauzi halwa! Hence.. he requested my mauseri bhabhi to prepare it for him! He's just gone to get the ingredients required to make the halwa!
Anjali: What did.. u say? Ja.. jauzi.. halwa?
Khushi observes the change in tone of Anjali's voice,from happy to sad.
Khushi: Ya..aa.. di.. y?What happened?
Anjali: Chhoti,mamma used to make.. jauzi halwa.
Khushi(surprised): Really?
Anjali: Ji.. She loved it. After she passed away.. it was never prepared again in r house. If Chhotey said he wants to have it,it means..
Khushi: Means what..?
Anjali: He must b missing mamma a lot..
Khushi doesnt know what to say.
Anjali: Did he.. tell u something about mamma?Or.. did anyone ask him about her? From where did this.. halwa come into the picture?
Khushi: No di! Niether did he say anything about her,nor did anyone ask him! He himself requested bhabhi to prepare it..
Anjali:Something must have happened Chhoti.. bcoz of which Chhotey started missing mamma and.. (sighs heavily) Anyways,u take care of him. He may not tell u anything about mamma. But he will keep missing her. U.. plz take care of him,dont leave him alone,ok Chhoti..?
Khushi: Di,u plz dont worry about Arnavji. I'll take care of him.
Anjali: Fine. Bye.
Khushi: Bye.
Khushi(thinks): So Arnavji is disturbed coz he's missing maaji. Whether he tells me himself or not,I will ask him about it.
*******
Arnav(enters the bedroom): Khushi,did u hav a bath?
Khushi: No.
Arnav: So tell me,who will go first,u or me?
He comes close to her and grabs her waist.
Arnav: Or should v go together?
Khushi stares at him with no expressions on her face.
Arnav leaves her waist.
Arnav(cups her face): What happened Khushi?U r looking tensed..
Khushi(holding his hands): U.. u r missing maaji,arent u?
Arnav doesnt say anything to her.
Arnav(leaving her hands): I'll go for a bath first.
He goes to take out his towel from his bag,when Khushi stops him.
Khushi: Tell me Arnavji.. What is going on in ur heart?What r u feeling? U can share ur pain with me. U'll feel better,trust me!
Arnav: Nothing really important Khushi..
Khushi: Then y did u ask bhabhi to preapare jauzi halwa?Di told me that maaji used to love it n.. after she.. passed away..
She stops as she notices tears in Arnav's eyes.
Khushi: Arnavji... Come here.. plz.. sit here..
She makes him sit on the bed and sits beside him,gently caressing his head.
Khushi: What is it?Tell me..
Arnav(hesitates): Khushi I..
Khushi: Yes?
Arnav: I.. saw maa in bhabhiji and myself in Deepak!
Khushi doesnt know what to say.
Arnav: Today when bhaisaab got angry n left,it reminded me of my childhood. Dad would also get angry on me n leave like that n maa.. she would coax me! Just like bhabhiji was coaxing Deepak!(with a sad smile) Maa also called me her raja bitwa!
Khushi hugs him,not knowing any better way of comforting him.
Arnav rests his head in the crook of her neck and shoulder and lets out all his tears.
Khushi: I.. I can understand..
Arnav: I'm missing maa,Khushi.. Today I'm.. missing her like hell!
Khushi comforts him by hugging him tighter and running a hand through his hair till he stops crying.
*****
Khushi: U need watern?
Arnav: No,thanks!
Khushi(wipes his tears): Maaji is right here,with us! She's always with her Chhotey n Anjali bitiya!And she's extremely happy today?U know y?
Arnav: Y?
Khushi: Bcoz today her daughter's wedding got fixed! Di is starting her life afresh, she's got a nice man like Rakshitji for her husband,a nice family as in-laws, she will soon hav a new beginning in her life! So which mother wouldnt b happy after knowing all that,tell me?!
Arnav nods.
Khushi: Now if u cry,her happiness will turn to sorrow.
She lovingly cups his face.
Khushi: If her raja bitwa cries,how will maaji b happy?If u r happy,she'll b double happy! N her soul will get peace!
Arnav gives a small smile,appreciating her gesture of uplifting his mood.
Khushi: thats like my Arnavji! Chaliye,now hav a bath n then happily eat the halwa, dont cry over it! When r elders r no more,they want their children to remember them n smile ,not cry! If u cry,how will maaji's soul rest in peace? If u r happy,she'll b happy,her Chhotey is remembering her n eating her favourite halwa! U should recall old,happy memories when u hav the halwa!Share them with me,Arnavji! Tell me how she used to react when she made the halwa? Tell me some of ur childhoos stories.. remember her in a good way! Not in a sad way!
She heaves a sigh of relief,dramatically!
Khushi: I gave sucha long speech! Did u get anything or..?
Arnav: Got it!
Khushi: Great!Now go n hav ur bath fast,else the water supply will cease n again u'll have to bathe with the handpump's water!
Arnav(smiles): Not again! I better go fast!
Khushi smiles as she sees him scurrying to the bathroom.
Khushi(folds her hands): Hey Devi Maiyya! Grant peace to my maaji's soul! Tell her that both her children r fine n happy. And I will do all that I can to keep their happiness intact!
She sighs.
Khushi: Like that I dont feel her absence since naniji n mamiji r there at home,but.. sometimes I feel,wish she would hav been here with us.. Anyways, u take care of her n I'll take care of Arnavji n di!
She wipes her eyes and goes to the kitchen.
*****
Precap: Arnav: Now,hw can I hav a bath myself,buaji?My hands r bandaged..
Ramaa(getting the hint): Nandoiji is right! If he lifts the tumbler,his hands will ache! Khusi,u do one thing,u give him a bath today,ok?
Khushi(shocked): What?! No ways!
Ramaa: Y noways?! If u can feed him,change his bandage then y cant u giv him a bath? What do u say buaji?
Buaji: Bahuriya's right! Aye Sanka devi! Go n giv a bath to Arnav babua! And make it fast! They will b back any moment! They all r yet to bathe! N ur bath is also remaining Nandkisore!
Arnav:U dont worry about that buaji,I'll take care of it! I mean,we both would have had our bath,before they return!
Kindly ignore typos n mistakes.PMs later.
Edited by Smita.M - 13 years ago
10