The next morning, Khushi sat on her bed, pretending to read her diary, while waiting for Arnav to come out of the bathroom. Arnav had gone for his bath and Khushi knew he would come out shirtless as he did everyday. She was determined to see if the girls at the office were right. Was he really hot??? She had never noticed him much when he was shirtless because she was always arguing with him, or planning her next move to irritate him, just the once she had noticed was when she had collided with him and that had left her so flustered she d been unable to think for a few mins.She looked at the poster of Salman Khan and whispered to him, "Give me strength,sallu bhai"
Arnav hurried out of the bathroom. He had forgotten to return back the call of an important client yesterday. He picked up his cell, dialed the number and started speaking
In between the call, he noticed Khushi looking at him from top to bottom. He pretended not to notice. He silently cut the call and stood observing her. "Why the hell is she running her eyes all over me" He felt a tightening in his pants ans Khushi 's eyes roamed over his upper torso slowly.
Arnav, sharply: " Why the hell are you drooling over me, Khushi"
Khushi's jerked her eyes, startled, to his. The book slipped from her hand and she drew in a shaky breath and realized that she 'd forgotten to breathe while scanning Arnav's body.
Khushi, taking deep breaths: " Droo..drooling??what do you mean?? I was doing no such thing"
Arnav: " Dont lie. Khushi. I just caught you red handed"
Khushi, angrily blurts out : " Yeah yeah... I was checking you out, but just because some of the girls at office where saying you re so hot, and I wanted to see for myself if you really were. Thats all. Dont get unwanted ideas into your head, Mr. Raizada "
Arnav, smiled: " Oh, is it?? and did you find me hot,especially when compared to your Salman Khan"
Khushi, rolling her eyes,:" Well, measuring the degree of hotness, if Salman Khan's the sun, then you are Pluto..."
Khushi started giggling
Arnav, angrily : " Oh yeah, if I am as cold as pluto, then beware, the next time I catch you checking me out , Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada"
Khushi, adamantly: "You said it right. I am Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, your wife, and I get to check you out whenever I want. Its my right and I dont need your permission for that"
Arnav, amazed, : " What the"
Khushi,walking out of the room: " Dont "What the" me, Mr. Raizada. Do you think I 've not seen you drooling over me when I dry my hair, daily..."
Arnav stared open mouthed as Khushi walked past him, delivering those lines, So she'd seen him staring at her. He looked at the mirror at himself,"Was he so not hot??"
After breakfast, Arnav got up
Arnav : "Di, I have some work to do and I ll be in my room."
Anjali: "Come on Chote, today is a sunday. Even today you are working?"
Arnav : "Its important di. By the way, did you see Khushi, anywhere."
Arnav asked looking all over
Anjali : "She must be in your room. I saw her going up"
Arnav entered his room, to find the TV blaring.
Arnav : "Khushi, reduce the volume"
Khushi, reducing the volume: "Arnavji, one of my favourite movies is going on.Kuch Kuch Hota Hain. Would you like to watch it too??"
Arnav, rolling his eyes,: " No way. I ve better things to do than watch some dumb movie. Cant you go down and watch. I have work to do"
Khushi, remembering Shyam's creepy stares at her in the drawing room
Khushi : "No.. no... Nani 's watching some programme. I will keep the volume down. I wont disturb you, pakka"
Arnav, sighed: " yeah..whatever"
After a while, Arnav looked up, wondering why Khushi was so silent. He looked to find Khushi, sitting on the bed, with tears streaming over her face. Arnav rushed to her.
Arnav,anxiously: "Khushi, what happened. Why are you crying"
Khushi, looking at Arnav, through tear filled eyes, :"Tujhe yaad na meri aayi, kisi se ab kya kehna"
Arnav,staring at her, : "Khushi.. what... no.. no .. its not like that.. I.. I .. I mean..."
Khushi, pushing Arnav away, :"Arnavji, let me watch. This is the saddest part of the movie."
Arnav turned to the TV screen to hear the song,"tujhe yaad na meri aayi..."
He turned to Khushi,: "You were speaking about this damn song"
Khushi,:"Of course.. what did you think"
Arnav, exasperated, : "What did I think??? Dont tell me Khushi that you cried becase of the movie"
Khushi, sniffing : "Of course.. its so sad when Kajol leaves and Shahrukh doesnt realize her love for him and,,,,,"
Arnav, shouts: "Enough... See whatever you want, but no need to descibe any of this nonsense to me"
Arnav walked back to his laptop angrily. He could still feel his heart thudding in his chest. For a moment, he had really thought, when she said those words...He closed his eyes. No.. he wouldnt think about anything. He had other things to do.
After a while, Arnav shut his laptop and stood up to see Khushi dozing off on the headrest of the bed. He smiled to himself. She was so childish, crying for a damn movie, dozing off while watching it. He slowly removed the remote from her hand and eased her back onto the bed. He stared at her. She was so beautiful. He tenderly held her cheek for a moment. He, then, turned and walked out of the room.
After an hour or so, he came running to the room to hear Khushi screaming
Khushi, : "Arnavji.. Arnavji.."
Arnav,anxiously :" What's it Khushi...What happened"
Khushi, :" Why didnt you wake me up? I missed the last part of the movie"
Arnav angrily,:"Khushi, you ll make me mad someday. ."
Saying so he stormed out of the room.
That night, as both of them prepared for bed,
Arnav,: " Why are yo silent? Cat got your tongue, eh"
Khushi, : "Very funny. I didnt know Arnav Singh Raizada could make jokes. I am not speaking to you as I missed the movie because of you"
Arnav, giving up : " Me?? You were the one who dozed off. Anyway,Khushi, you know where my CD's are kept , dont you? There you ll find a collector's DVD edition of Kuch Kuch Hota Hain. You can watch it on the DVD player"
Khushi,astonished : " You have a DVD of it.. that too a collector's edition.. that means you also like the movie??"
Arnav, with a small smile :" I guess then there are many things you do not know about your husband, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada"
He turned back, switched off the light and laid down closing his eyes leaving Khushi gaping at his sleeping form .
Hows it guys!!!!
CID
Udne Ki Aasha
12