I responded to a couple of comments I'll try ro respond to every single one of them. Thank you for your comments they really mean the world to me. This chapter doesn't continue where I left it last, but the next one will be full of Arhi. I needed to write this one, so I can start the road that will reveal why they are in this hotel room.
Anyways hope you will enjoy it regardless.
Chapter 6: The one three is lucky for Khushi.
Seven months earlier, give or take a couple of days:
Khushi had started to settle in her new routine. She had been going to college now for about a month. She was really enjoying her classes, the professors were truly amazing. She wondered how they could be so well informed on their respective subjects. She had always wanted to be as composed as that. The fact that she was a brilliant student was quite apparent, but she wished that she was a bit more grounded. She was tired of being the "sanka devi". a nick name she had picked up at the orphanage. She had a tendency to slip, stumble or hurt herself almost daily. Payal and Garima had always been the two to lend a helping hand, they would clean her wounds, steady her while falling or just something as simple as whisper a couple of soothing words.
In this month she had had a chance to meet Payal's friend a number of times, her initial hesitancies toward them hadn't changed, but she had decided to give them a chance for her jiji's sake. The reason for this was, that she felt that maybe her sister had out grown her. A thought that scared her more then death it self. She knew she wouldn't survive in this world without her jiji, so she had to be part of her jiji's world. It was as simple as that.
She had also started her new job at the caf. The caf wasn't a big one, it wasn't part of a big chain and that was the reason Khushi loved it. The caf was a survivor just like her. There was a big mall in walking distance from it. The mall contained a newly opened starbucks, a barista lavanzza and an Indian coffee house. It made it tough for them to compete, but with the reasonable prizing many students were regulars. The owner, Mr. Costanza, had taken an instant liking of Khushi, and after only a matter of days he treated her as one of her grandchildren. Mr. George Costanza was a widower in his late 60's, his children had moved to the US about ten years ago and asked him to come with. But he had declined stating the fact that he had to stay, who would otherwise put fresh lilies on his beautiful Lily's grave every Sunday?
Khushi wasn't Christian like sweet Mr. Constanza, but she respected every religion, and more over she was intrigued by every religion. So one they she gathered her courage and asked the lovely man whom he called Dada, if she could accompany him to the church on Sunday and meet his wife she had heard so much about. Dada was more then happy to oblige, he had already met Khushi's parents a while back. One day after closing up the caf, he had seen khushi gazing up towards the stars and crying. He had walked up to her and asked what was wrong. She had then told him about her amma and abba and introduced him to them. That had been the day Mr. Constanza had decided to take care of this sweet little girl, no matter what. They had in the last month embraced a routine, every time Khushi worked, they would close up together and walk to her apartment while Dada would lead his bicycle, then stop at her building's entrance give her a hug and climb up on his bike and pedal away.
On Sunday dada came to pick Khushi up and walk with her to church, that was only a few block away. They walked together talking, laughing and sharing memories. They sat through the beautiful sermon and then lit a candle each for their loved ones that had left without leaving them.
Dada guided Khushi to the grave and upon reaching it, introduced Khushi to the love of his life. He talked told Lily how much this petite girl meant to him and asked Lily to put in a good word for her in heaven. Khushi watched silently, she waited, she didn't want to disturb the dada's weekly exchange with his beloved. When she noticed that he was done, she quickly came nearer and said: "Namaste, Lily dadi, may I call you dadi? Dada has told me so much about you, I wish I could have met you in person. If I could ask just one favor from you, would you oblige? Can you always keep listening to Dada he needs you. Just the way I need my parents to be there for me. Oh, talking about my parents, reminded me I actually needed two favors, is that okay? Could you see to it that they don't argue in vain, they have a tendency to start disagreeing with each other over nonsensical things. Even though they love each other too much to be mad for a longer period, I hate it when they quarrel. Dadi it was really nice meeting you, I hope to see you soon. I'll let you have some more time with Dada, bye for now."
Khushi stepped aside and waited for him to finish talking with her. When he came forth to leave she excused herself and went forward and put a purple tulip on Dadi's grave. Her mother's and hers favorite flower.
Khushi linked her arm in Dada's and started walking to the entrance of the church. When they got there, they saw that his bike had a puncture. Khushi's house was nearby, but if Dada was going to walk, it would probably be too tiresome. They were just contemplating on what to do, when a jeep stopped in front of them. There were two guys in it, the one on the passenger seat stepped out and started to speak:
"Can we help you in anyway? We were just having some gol gappas by the roadside and saw some kids puncture this bike, I think they did it for sports. And then we saw you two standing and looking confused so we felt it was our duty to help in any way. Isn't that right Aakash? I'm Nk by the way."
"I'm George Constanza and this is my grandchild Khushi. We don't want to trouble you two. It's really nice of you to ask, the only way I can accept this favor is if I can repay you somehow. Maybe I can treat you to something in my caf? It's close by, just a 15 minute walk from here."
"Oh that would be lovely, but unfortunately we are going to meet our friend and he hates to be kept waiting. Maybe a rain check on that coffee? Come on let us help you. We'll but the bike in the trunk and drop you."
"Okay, but you'll have to drop us at two different locations If that's all right. We don't live in the same place. Khushi lives nearby and I live probably a ten minutes drive from here."
Aakash had now stepped out and said:" That's no problem at all, as NK said we're happy to help. Just one question is it all right if we pick up our friend first. He's in a mall nearby and he is being tormented by his sister, while she is shopping?"
It was Khushi's turn to speak up: "Of course it is, you are the ones helping us remember. Lets go then I don't think the scorching sun is good for Dada. Thank you so much for helping us, your kindness reminds me of home. I'm from Lucknow, I recently moved here to start studying. I chose Delhi to be near my jiji, she's actually also at a mall nearby, I bet it's the same one as your friend."
Aakash smiled and said: "Yes lets go."
The four of them and the bike positioned themselves in the car and drove of. While approaching the mall's parking lot NK could clearly see their friend standing by the entrance with his sister and probably his sisters friend. The car halted precisely in front of the group of three. This made the group jolt up and surprise became evident on their faces. The surprise exchanged in to recognition within second and finally in to disbelief.
"what are you doing here?" Payal exclaimed seeing Khushi.
"Do you know her Aakash?" Anjali said looking at Khushi.
"Is he your friend? But you two seem so nice" Khushi blurted out after seeing Arnav.
"You two are screwed, was I kept waiting because of her?" Arnav yelled.
"Why are we shouting?" NK shouted.
Aakash didn't say anything, you could always count on him keeping quiet.
Edited by 3llie - 13 years ago
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