Living Without You: 3: Link to Thread 4 (Part 41) - Page 54

hmm nyc updates...

all girls r drooling over arnav jealous khushi lol...vimla massi is sweet tht arnav would be a good father...khushi blushed...u have intelligently put the 4th june epi's scenes as arnav dream..good...but add kiss which was badly need fr tht epi...NK is coming n arnav irritated...

OS: Don't let Go of Me, Khushi!

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3022025/os-dont-let-go-of-me-khushi

Part 40

Babuji's cousin, Deenanath Gupta and his son Anand came visiting the next day. Payal and Khushi ran to them and took their blessings. The older man was jovial and easygoing, much loved by the family. Anand was in his late 30s, lean but muscled, his simple kurta hanging loosely around his tall, straight frame. He had strong features, a sharp nose, quiet eyes, a stubborn chin, & long hair. He gently ruffled Payal and Khushi's hair, and bent to touch Babuji, Amma, and Buaji's feet. He said "Namaste" in a soft voice when introduced to the Raizadas. Taciturn by nature, he then sat back, sipped unsweetened tea, and watched the others talking and laughing.

Arnav watched them closely. It was clear that the older gentleman was good natured. But Anand... He was a mystery. Being silent was not a sin, especially not to Arnav who used words sparingly in his personal life. But life and Shyam had taught him bitter lessons. He was determined to check them out thoroughly before letting his sister associate with them.

This resolution was weakened by Anjali's interest in the orphanage and school. She asked various questions of the older man about the children and their education. Luckily for Arnav, Buaji managed to force the two men to accept a visit from the family to the school the next day. Arnav had to be satisfied with that.

After the guests left, Arnav and Akash had to go to the office. As he drove through the city, Arnav turned to look at the bespectacled man sitting by him.

"Akash, I am sorry."

"Kyun, Bhai?", Akash asked, astonished.

"For spoiling your wedding day."

Akash smiled. "It doesn't matter, Bhai. I just wish... I just wish you had told me about Shyam. When I think of you and Khushiji trying to deal with him alone..."

"I... I was too shocked, Akash. Too many things were going wrong at the same time...", he said with regret lacing his voice.

Akash nodded. "It is over, Bhai. Thank God." He smiled. "And we are happy to be getting married again, and that too with you and Khushiji. We can celebrate all our wedding anniversaries together."

Arnav was grateful to have such a loving and uncomplicated brother. He remembered Buaji's words about how lucky he was to have so many people who loved him.

He returned from the office to find Khushi missing. She was not at home. Nor was she in the shop's kitchen. Munna and Krishna told him that she had gone to the temple. He changed in to casual clothes and the sweater that Amma & Buaji had gifted him, and slowly made his way to the temple.

She had finished praying and was at the steps of the temple, trying to balance on one foot while donning her footwear. He walked towards her, enjoying her beauty in a violet-pink suit with flowing lines. As he watched, a small child ran in to her on his way to the temple, knocking her off balance. As she tottered, he placed his arms around her and held her to his chest.

One moment she had been about to fall. The next moment, she was cradled against his heart, safe and secure. She looked up at his face. How did he always appear when she was in need? She inspected his features. The wide forehead with frown lines, the intent, possessive eyes that saw only her, his lean cheeks, his strong nose that begged to be pulled in fun, his lips that made her shiver when she looked at them, his heart that beat as one with hers... She smiled trustingly at him, and standing in the circle of his arms, slowly smoothed the frown lines with her finger.

"I am alright. Don't worry."

He nodded.

"Shall we sit for sometime? It is very peaceful here...", she suggested.

He led her to a bench near the steps.

"Do you remember...in Delhi...on Teej day... You helped me when I fainted."

"Twice."

"Haan. I am not used to fasting.", she said sheepishly.

He smiled.

"And you broke my fast."

"I didn't know that you were fasting."

She giggled. "Buaji said that I had to fast to get a good husband. She was very sure that nobody would be foolish enough to marry me, and that I wouldn't get a good husband without divine intervention."

He smiled, and caught her hand in his gently. They sat in the evening light, smiling at their many follies, sharing memories of their time together. Time flew.

"Khushi...", he asked. "What does Anand do?"

"Bhaiyya? He draws."

"Draws? He is an artist?" So that explained his overlong hair.

"No...", frowned Khushi as she broke a piece of the prasad and pushed it past his lips. "Not pictures of plants and people. He draws houses, with bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom etc. His company builds those houses for his clients."

"Oh, an architect!"

"Wahi! How else can he fund the orphanage? He studied in America and got a job there. But then his mother, Kamala Chaachi fell ill. He is an only child, you see. And Chachaji could not look after her alone. She was bedridden. So Bhaiyya gave up the job and came home to look after his mother. She was laid up for 7 years, and died last year."

"Is he married?"

"Bhaiyya?" She laughed. "That is a good joke. Chachaji says that he does not have the time to cut his hair, let alone marry."

Arnav smiled slightly.

A while later, he asked softly, "Khushi, you are happy, aren't you?"

She smiled, her teeth shining like pearls in the darkness.

"Very happy. We are getting married. Jiji & Jiju are getting married with us. Nanheji will arrive on the morning of the sangeet. All our family will be under one roof, all of them happy. Laxmiji is here. Our sweetshop is doing very well. What more do I want?"

Arnav swallowed. "You are happy that NK is coming for the wedding?"

"Haan..", she smiled widely. "You know, Arnavji! Life is so ajeeb!"

He smiled at her excitement.

"Jiji and I, we always wanted brothers. We used to feel jealous of other girls during rakhi. The only Anand Bhaiyya we had was never around, and anyway he was too old for us. He will be 38 years old this year, you know. So we used to tell ourselves that we would get married to boys with lots of brothers so that we could tie rakhi on all of them. Now Jiji has you and Nanheji. I have Jiju, Nanheji, and Hari Prakashji. Jiji and I, we are very lucky, aren't we?", she asked.

"Yes...", he said. "I am very lucky."

Thread 4: Part 41:

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3024313/ff-living-without-you-4-part-59-last-updated