WARNING.. please do note that I have no hard feeilngs against anyone. I needed a name so I used one. This is all fiction and for fun. If anyone takes anything to offence. Meaning with naming someone, then please do forgive me. That is not my intention. :)
Part 40
Khushi smiled and bend to touch mm's feet. Mm stopped her. She looked at khushi. Khushi just smiled. She was everything that she would want for her son. She hugged khushi.
Mm: betiyon ki jangha dil main hoti hai. Khushi smiled and hugged her back. Arnav saw this and took a deep deep sigh of relief. Seeing the two women he loved most like this. He felt his life was now complete. He could not have asked for anything more.
Mm: garima acha howa tum logon nay meri baat maan li yahan akar. Subha tho parayshan kar diya tha. She laughed. Khushi and arnav looked at their parents confused.
Garima: haan. Tumhay kaun mana kar sak tha hai. Mainay inko bataya, aur inhon nay kaha tha kay waheen par hi jana hai. Phir jis tarhan say plans thoray say change kiyeh hain. Poocho mat.
Akash walked up to arnav who was putting the cooler near the picnic bench.
Akash: so batman, yeh robin kaam aya na. He winked at his brother. Aranv hugged his brother.
Arnav: thanks man.
Akash: no problem. Voh bhai. Ab ho chai peenay main koi problem tho nahin hogi na. I mean. Ab tho dil chahay ga na. He said teasingly.
Aranv chuckled: sath main. He winked at his brother.
Akash: I am so proud to call you my brother. He gave a melodramatic act to accompany that line. Both of the brothers kept on laughing. Mm looked at arnav, and finally saw her son not just smile, but laugh. She thanked akash for coming up to her early in the morning.
flash back
mm was in the kitchen getting prakash's break fest and lunch ready. When akash came in and hugged her from the back.
Akash: ma, ap kay liye subha subha ek gana.
Mm was shocked. What happened to her son. Did he hurt himself while sleeping. Did she need to call a doctor. She raised her eyebrow but continued to work.
Akash: kya khub lag thi ho... bari sundar lag thi hooo... \
mom tum hi kaho,
bhai roo thay raho,
kya acha lag tha haiii.
Mm stopped and looked at her son.
Mm: kya baat kar rahay ho tum.
Akash: voh ma, I have a feeling that bhai and khushi had a fight. No they dont fight with anyone else, ek dosray kay sath kya laraingay. But there is a problem. Dont know what. I was thinking, maybe, since you and aunty are still good friends, and khushi is back in town, and anjali was her childhood best friend, that maybe, just maybe we can set up a families meeting.
Mm: arnav nay bhaiga hai tumhay.
Akah: no. and dont tell bhai I am talking to you about this. He will kill me. Waisay hi mood off hai. Mujhe bhi off kar daingay.
Mm: phone lao. Let me talk to garima. Akash had the phone ready in his hand.
Mm smiled. She dialed gariam's number.
Gariam: hello
mm: hello nahin. Hello hi bye bye. Both of the ladies started to laugh and did small talk
mm: acha sunu, aj tum sab hamaray yahan aray hay ho. Bas. Final. Yeh bhi aj choti lay rahay hain. And tum sab arahay ho bas.
Garima: mm agati, magar kaheen kaam say jana hai.
Mm: kya kaam hain. Hmm
garima: voh ek family say mil na hai. Aur voh tumharay yahan nahin a sak thay hain. Unsay mil na bhi zarori hai.
Mm: theek hai phir, kyon na theenoon families mil lain. Tum aisa karo, us family ko bhi park main bula lo. Hum dono kay gharon kay beech main voh lake hai na. Uskay paas ek hi ek park hai. Bas final. Daiko, mujhe yeh hai kay saray bachay ae howay hain. Aur khushi bhi ae hogi na. Anjali bhi usko yaad kar rahi thi. Hum dono tum dono ko yaad kar rahay thay. Arnav bhi aya howa hai. Kab aisay mauqay mil thay hain. Acha aur sunu. Bachon ko kuch nahin bataingay. Surprise hoga. Theek hai. Garima tried very hard to cancel but mm was persistent. Finally garima agreed and called the third family, chetan's family and told them to come there as well.
Akash hugged his mother.
Akash: ma, jab meri koi girlfriend hogi na. Tho ap hi say meetings set up kar nay kay liye kahonga.
Mm: koi nahin. Mujhe tera koi bharosa nahin hai. Kisi gori kali ko lay aega. Aur kahay ga, ma, yeh apki honay wali bahu hai. They laughed.
end of flashback
all of the adults sat at the table. While the guys went and sat on the sheet that they spread on the grass. The girls sat at the bench with the adults. Giggling, talking about random stuff, catching up. Time to time khushi would look down and take a peek at arnav from the cornor of her eyes. And then look at everyone else. Arnav was not able to look at khushi properly. Akash and him were both sitting parallel to them. He told akash to get up and sit with his back to the bench. Akash smiled, and shook his head negatively. He felt used. Arnav could not look at khushi a lot more easily.
Garima started to whisper to mm.
Garima: aj larkay walay khushi ko daikh nay arahay hain. Larka nahin araha, uskay parivaar walay arahay hain. Mujhe yeh sari cheezin nahin pata hain. Tum bhi daikh na aur phir batana, kaisay loog hain. Beti ki zindagi ka sawaal hai. Mm's eyes widened.
Mm: voh garima. Jaldi mat karna. Bachon ki zindagi ka sawaal hai. She needed to first talk to prakash about sending arnav's ristha. He was unaware of the kids feelings. And this environment was not right. Especially if another family was also coming.
Garima: voh daikho... agay.. garima pointed to three people walking towards them. One mother, one father, and their daughter. Everyone turned seeing garima's excitement. Khushi knew who they were, and why they came. Everything seemed too good to be true for this picnic. Arnav and khushi looked at each other while everyone looked at the incoming storm.
Khushi's eyes: main kya karon. Mujhe dar lag raha hai.
Arnav's eyes: main tumharay sath hoon. Dono mil kar kuch soch laingay. He reassuringly blinked his eyes. Khushi looked down and closed her eyes. She sighed. She slowly opened her eyes and stood up with the rest of the people. The family had finally arrived and was standing infront of them. The parents seemed very nice. Decent people. Their daughter was very americanized. She wore a very short short skin tight sleeve less white dress. Her hair was a bit below her shoulders, layers cut. She seemed like a make-up ki dukaan to tell you the truth. There was not a cell on her face which was not covered up with makeup. She had a huge smile on her face and stood in the style of a model. Ready for anyone to come and take a picture. Her heels were dangerous. Seemed as it they joined the heels of two shoes to make into one. Khushi felt a sense of inferiority while seeing her. Khushi didnt no nothing more than a simple skin colour lip gloss and kajal. That too very minimal. If that was her supposed sister-in-law, then she was doomed. She fake smiled and looked down. She went and after payal touched the parents feet. The parents were impressed. They loved khushi from that time onwards.
Chetan's mom: beta, tum kitni sanaskari ho. Please kabhi meri beti kay sar oar bhi hath phair do. Shayad kuch asar ho. Every smiled, giggled, but tried to hold in their laughter.
Shehnaz seemed annoyed of her mothers joke.
Shehnaz: momzy, pahleez. Main jaisa bhi hoon. Perfect whooonn. (bad bad desi accent!!!!) I dont think I need to change to become a bhaingii. Okay.
Khushi looked down. She stopped smiling. Her mother looked at her angrily. She made a face and sighed. With a huff she said. She took out her hand to shake but not in the usual polite matter. The top of her hand was facing up and her fingers down. As if she wanted khushi to kiss her hand to convey her allegiance.
Shehnaz: hi, I am shehnaz. Khushi sighed. She was hurt by shehnaz's attitude. She was respectful, but had her own self respect as well. She smiled. Looked at her in the eyes and brought of her hands up and joined them together in a namaste.
Khushi: namaste. Shehnaz was a bit offended, but admired the way khushi handled her greeting.
Everyone started to walk towards the bench. This guys were standing by the sheet on the ground. They smiled and said namaste to the parents. Shehnaz saw arnav and was spellbound. Who wouldnt be. Tall, dark, handsome, goti, framless glasses, well built, need I go on. ;)
while swaying her hips side to side, placed both of her hands on her hips and seductively walked towards him. She raised her eyebrow. This lioness was going to hunt. Seeing the way shehnaz was walking towards the guys, khushi got a bit worried. She was hoping that shehnaz's eyes were looking at akash. Her heart started to pound harder in her chest. She closed her eyes and prayed to devi maiiya, hey devi maiyya, mere arnav ki raksha kar na. Mere aranv. She stopped to think of what she just asked. She was not becoming a bit possessive of arnav. But to her disappointement shehnaz put her hand out in front of arnav. As if she was waiting for him to take it and kiss the back of it. While lowering and raising the same eyebrow and swaying her head to one side, in a very seductive manner she spoke.
Shehnaz: hi. I'm shehnaz. Aranv gulped. Holy cra*. He thought. Khushi's eyes widened. Her jaw dropped. Arnav looked at khushi. He was dead meat.
He raised both of his hands and joined them. Just like khushi did. He smiled. A polite smile.
Arnav: namaste. I'm aranv. He cleared his throat hinting to his robin to jump in. akash quickely grabbed the hand that shehnaz had out before she could take it back and placed a kiss on the back.
Akash: hey sweetness. All the girls call me the man of their dreams. He winked at her. She seemed disgusted. She pulled her hand away. Akash chuckled. So did arnav.
Shehnaz: sorry. But this catwoman only goes for the real batman, not his side kick. Meowww...
akash: roarrr... aranv and akash started to laugh his head off. Akash and him high fived. They both just shook their heads and walked away. Shehnaz was angry. No guy, ever walked away from here. And this guy, she wanted. And she would get not matter what. Khushi, anjali and payal tried to hold their laughter in. each of them biting their lips or closing their mouths with their hands. But once khushi saw aranv, they both exchanged full smiles. Khushi saw akash, and akash then tugged on the colar of his shirt.
Akash: desi ishtyleee... they all enjoyed another laugh.
Mm: lets eat something first. Then the kids can do whatever they want. Right. All of the parents agreed. Mm and garima both got up to start serving, when khushi stopped them.
Khushi: ap dono baith gaeyeh, hum sab ko paros daingay. Khushi smiled at mm and garima. Not noticing that chetan's parents were also getting very impressed seeing her. Payal and anjali both got up to help. Shehnaz saw her mom hint to her to go and help. She reluctantly went. Khushi payal and anjali stood in a line and started to make everyone's plates individually. Khushi whispered to payal.
Khushi: I don't want to serve her parents. Can you please. Anajli heard and started to laugh.
Anjali: khushi, idea. How about payal and I serve the parents. While you make it for us. Shehnaz looked around the table to see what was there. She held a plate in her one hand and bent the other one up joining her thumb and index finger. She started to mumble... fat freee.. fat freee..
khushi felt like giving her the deep friend poriyan.
She mumbled: waisay hi healthy hai, fat free khanay say koi farak nahin paray ga. Anjali and payal heard this and laughed.
Khushi: sorry, I am usually never like this. I swear, but I cant help my self right now.
Anjali: khushi all I have to say to you is... meowww...
payal joined in and said: roarrr... the three girls giggled.
Anajli and payal served the adults. There was chola puri, and allo sabzee. But there was one special box that khushi took out. She had made veggie sandwiches. She didn't know why. But this morning. She just felt like making them. And when garima told her that she were going to meet a few families at a picnic, she made extras. There were not enough. But enough that everyone could get one each. She smiled as she placed one for arnav. She made a similar plate for akash as well. But the amount of love that was in arnav's plate, could never be matched. Shehnaz just picked up a diet pepsi can and opened that.
Shehnaz: I guess, I will just have to do with this.
Khushi: shehnaz. There are also veggie sandwiches. She put on in one plate and gave that to her. Shehnaz smiled and took the plate. Khushi smiled back.
Arnav and akash walked over to the bench. Khushi gave akash his plate. And looked at him and smiled.
Akash: yum. Thanks. What is this.
Khushi: veggie sandwiches. Aranv had a huge grin on his face. This did not go unnoticed by shehnaz. Khushi looked down and shy fully handed arnavs plate to him. Aranv purposely slid his hands over hers. She bit her lips trying to hold her smile in.
arnav: thanks. Khushi turned away and continued to make it for the girls now. Shehnaz was annoyed. Forgetting that fact that they were there to see khushi for her brother. Shehnaz then purposely walked into aranv and spilled a bit of her drink onto his plate. Aranv moved back. Akash and khsuhi both saw this. So did the parents. Mm got up and grabbed some tissues.
Shehnaz: oh. I am sooo soo sorry. I think I just ruined your food. Here you can take mines. I only took a bit out of it. She tried to hand him hers he shook his head negatively.
Arnav: that is OK. Plus, I like this one much more. Sorry. He picked it up and took a bite. Sure the bread was a bit soggy. But that didn't matter. Khushi made it for him. And took it out for him. And gave it to him. Mm reached arnav.
Mm: arnav. Take mines. Put these tissues on your plate as well.
Arnav: ma, I am fine. And this is just fine. I don't see anything wrong with it. Taste just as good. Khushi walked up from behind mm and put her plate in front of mm.
Khushi: aunty ap yeh wala day dain.
Mm: isn't that yours.
Khushi: voh, I will have chola pori. She smiled and mm sighed. She thought how lucky her son was to get khushi.
Arnav: no its OK. I am fine with this one. Mm looked at arnav and placed one of her hands on his cheek.
Mm: gis main teri khushi ho arnav. Tho voh kar. Aranv smirked. His mother just teased him. In front of her. Khushi's eyes widened. And cheeks started to turn red. She gulped. She quietly moved away from there. Mm giggled and went back. Anjali and payal spread another sheet on the ground. The parents got up and went and sat there. The food was on the bench so if anyone wanted more, they would not have to go through the parents. Shehnaz sat with their legs to one side. Obviously her dress was a bit to short. So it was a bit difficult. Aranv and akash both felt a bit uncomfortable sitting in the same place as them. The order was shehnaz, payal, anjali, akash, and then arnaz. Shehnaz tried to move a bit closer to arnav. There was still space for one between them. She was slowly making her move.
Akash bend his head towards anjali.
Akash: hey anjali. I think this girl is planning to have kids with bhai. We need to do something. I am too young to become a chacha. Anajli giggled.
Anjali: I know. But what can we do.
Akash: I need khushi's help for this. Everyone else is already seated, tho bura lagay ga. I need you to tell khushi to go and sit between aranv and that new girl.
Anjali: hmmm. Theek hai.
Shehnaz: oh arnav. I am soo sorry. I didnt meant to. Here, I insist that you take mines. Please. It will help me with my guilt. Anjali and akash almost choked. Khushi was walking up to the sheet and heard her. Her jaws clenched. She made a first. How dare she. She stopped right there.
Aranv: no its OK. Umm. Sorry kya naam bataya tha.
Shehnaz: shehnaz.
Arnav: sorry. I cant eat some one elses jhota. Sorry. He said with a small smile. Trying to get the point across to her. Khushi sighed. She remembered how her and arnav shared so many meals together. And his constant attempts to share or get close. Such as sharing the chopsticks for the chinese he brought over once. The break fest at the hotel. The drinks. Everything.
Anajli: array khushi. Why are you still standing. Come and sit na. She pointed towards the place between arnav and shehnaz. Shehnaz noticed this. Khushi shook her head negatively.
Khushi: main kaisay. I mean. Anjali gave her a pleading look.
Shehnaz: but there is not enough space. Arnav started to move more towards akash.
Khushi looked down and sat down between them. She was looking down while eating. She trust him. But didn't like her. One single bit. She ate very quietly. Everyone was talking and khushi just smiled or nodded. Khushi got up and went to the bench. She hand only managed to finish half of her sandwich, but her anger from inside was making her throat dry. She needed a drink. Aranv also got up and took his plate over. Khushi placed her plate on the bench and started to open a can. She poured it out into a glass. She took a sip. Arnav was not at the bench as well. He put his plate down and started to scratch his nose. With the other hand he picked up khushis unfinished sandwich and transferred it to his plate. He put his unfinished sandwich into her plate. Making it all seem very very smooth. No one caught on luckily. Not even khushi.
Arnav: umm. Can you please pour me a glass of water. Khushi nodded while looking down. She put her glass down. Aranv picked up her glass and walked away. Khushi was shocked. Did he just. She smiled. She poured the rest of the drink in another glass, picked up her plate and walked back. She sat down in the same place. Placing her glass down right beside his. Her light lip gloss mark was still on the cup that he had taken. She saw that and coughed. Aranv raised his eye brow and looked at her with concern. That was a fake cough. What happened. She hinted with her eyes to look at his glass. He looked at it and noticed the mark. He passed her her new glass. She started to drink. He picked up his cup and started to drink from where she did. Trying to use his tongue to wipe up the mark as much as possible. He even slid his mouth along it a couple of times. To make sure it was all gone. Arnav continued to eat and khushi picked up her sandwich. It felt a bit wet. But how. She took a bite. It tasted like Pepsi. Diet Pepsi She widened her eyes as she realized what arnav had done. She did one or two slight coughs. He sniffed. Both acknowledged the fact that they knew. She smiled now. Both finished their lunch and so did everyone else. She had the worlds most difficult time getting up. Khushi stood up and just fixed her duppata. Arnav also got up.
Shehnaz: umm. Aranv. Be a dear and help me up please. She then Shehnaz put her hand up and held onto the other hand given. She looked up. It was khushi. Aranv had already fled from the scene. Khushi smiled. A sweet, nice try bimbo smile.
Arnav stood up by the trees near them with his hands crossed in front of him. He wanted to spend some time alone with khushi. But knew it was not appropriate. Khushi was amongst the adults. Serving them all chai. Anjali and payal were clearing up the food. Akash was playing random tunes on his guitar. Trying to keep shehnaz away from his brother. Shehnaz received a phone call and excused her self.
Akash saw his brother. He was deep in thought. His batman needed help, and robin flew right over.
Akash brought his guitar over. And started to sing to his brother.
Akash: Chalte Chalte yunhi ruk jaata hoon main,
Baithe baithe kahin kho jaata hoon main,
Kahte Kahte hi chup ho jaata hoon main.
Kya yahi pyar hai, kya yahi pyar hai
Haan yahi pyar hai, haan yahi pyar ha
arnav sighed. Aksh leaned against the same tree but on the other side.
Akash: so. Tell me something. You want to talk to her, meet her, but can't right.
Arnav: hmmm. And I think she is also getting annoyed of shelia. Wait is that her name.
Akash:shehnaz
arnav: right. Shehnaz hitting on me.
Akash: consider your problem finished. Akash got up and went to the rest of the people. He put his guitar away.
Akash: anjali. I saw this nice bridge and river when we drove up here.
Anajali: yeah... I saw it too. I say we should all go. Come khushi, payal. Lets go. Shehnaz returned from her call. And heard the plan. Perfect she thought. Some time alone with arnav. She grinned.
Shehnaz: count me in. anajli leaned into payals ear and whispered.
Anajli: meowww.
Payal whispered back: woof woof. Wait sorry I mean. Rooarrr. They both started to giggle. Anjali stood up and grabbed her black purse. Payal got up and took her purse out from the bag. Hers was brown. They both looked at each other.
Payal: hey, I have the exact same purse as you. Just different colour. That is soo cool. This on khushi brought for me.
Anjali: I know. Arnav bhai brought it for me. This is just too too weird. Akash spoke to the parents and told tem that all of them were just going for a stroll and would be back soon. They all have their phones if need be. Anajli and payal started to walk ahead. They called khushi and she hinted that she was going to follow you guys go ahead. Arnav followed them. Shehnaz followed him. And akash and khushi walked together.
They had walked at least ten minutes away. Anajli and payal noticed the bridge and pointed at it. But decided to walk ahead more. Shehnaz was having difficult walking on the grass with her extra high heed shoes. She gave it one go and decided to run towards aranv but stopped. Her dress would ride up a bit. She would then slow down. Fix it, then walk faster again.
Khushi saw this. And started to mumble: angraiz ki bachi. Pata nahin kahan say agae. Akash laughed his head off.
Akash: khushi.. bhabhi.. (she smiled) us angraiz ki bachi kay liye apkay yeh angariz kafi hai. Fiqr not.
Khushi: thanks akash. Its not that. I mean. He could also say something right. She felt that she needed to talk to someone. And akash was her good friend. Who knew. Shehnaz ran up once more to him and got right beside him. His hands were in his pocket and he was looking down and to the side while walking. He missed having khushi by his side. He was remembering their hike during the cottage stay. He didn't notice shehnaz here. She looked at him. Then she needed to get his attention. Akash and khushi both say this.
Khushi: why is he not noticing her right beside him.
Akash: be right back. He started to run towards arnav. Shehnaz purposely started to wiggle while walking. Trying to show that she was losing balance. Then with a very fake way, she raised her hands and started to fall towards arnav.
Arnav: what the...
She was caught. She smiled and turned her head to see.. akash.
Aranv was pushed ahead. He turned back to see them. Akash smiled at his brother and then at shehnaz.
Akash: hey my jangli billi. I mean sorry, cat-woman This robin is here for you. He winked at her. She got up and fixed her dress. Anajli and payal also came back.
Anajli: shehnaz are you OK Khushi also walked up to them. She looked angry. She looked at aranv. Angrily. Upset. He could see it in her eyes. She was hurt. How was he to tell her that he was thinking about her and didn't notice.
Arnav's eyes: I am sorry. I didn't know she was her. Or she would do that.
Khushi's eyes: I hope you enjoy your time with her. I am leaving.
Khushi: I am going back guys. I feel a bit tired. OK Without having anyone else comment on anything else she just left. Aranv needed to go. Akash saw his brothers helplessness. Anjali and payal got up and started to walk more ahead. Shehnaz was about to go towards aranv, when akash stopped her.
Akash: you know. Jangli billi. No one knows batman more than robin. I know you like him I could tell you all of his likes and what not. So you could get closer to him. He raised his eyebrow. She raised hers approvingly.
Akash: but we need to stay away from him for a bit. Because if he finds out that I told you. Man I am dead meat.
Shehnaz nodded her head and started to walk with akash. Arnav was right beside his brother. Akash hit him with his hand that was between them slightly. Aranv looked down. Akash hinted for to run after khushi. Aranv didn't give it another thought and started to run back.
He saw khushi walking back. She was crying. She knew she was crying.
Arnav: khushi.. he yelled. She looked back. And wiped her tears and started to walk back faster. He caught up to her.
Arnav: khushi. Meri baat tho sunu.
Khushi: mujhe koi baat nahin suni. OK Ap gaeyeh na. Us angrez ki bachi kay pas. She walked faster. He needed to stop her. And she wasn't. He held her hand. She tried to free it. He was not getting a bit impatient. He saw the bridge. He knew what he had to do. He pulled her hand. His right hand was tightly holding her left wrist. He put his head between her right arm and body and flung her onto his left shoulder.
Khushi: put me down. Please. Put me down. He didn't listen to her.
He walked towards the bridge.
Khushi: arnav, koi daikh lay ga.
Arnav: I don't care. He walked up to the bridge. And noticed a stair case that goes to the bottom where the river was. He needed to find a place to hide. Somewhere where there was going to be privacy for the both of them. He walked down and went underneath the bridge. He put her down and her back was now against the wall. He put both of his arms around her against the wall so she could not run away.
Precap: the much awaited songsss :P …. anajli also yells at shehnaz. Mua ha ha.
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