FF: Living Without You: 4: Part 59 (Last) Updated - Page 12

it feels perfect...correcting ebery imperfections remaining...youclear all stains and bad marks in the frame by making everthing in right place...nw anjali is also engaged to new job...everything is perfect...no wonder arnav felt happiness...and the way you described his eagerness to see khushi ...i just loved it and their bedroom romance...i feel at peace and happinness reading your updates...thank you for making me feel so,...

Part 43

Nanheji landed on the morning of the sangeet, waking up a sleeping house.

"Maasi, Nannav, Di, Akash, Buaji, Payal Bhabi, Khushiji! I am here!"

Arnav groaned, dragging himself out of bed. The typhoon had hit Gomti Sadan. A small smile appeared on his lips thinking about the look of anxiety on NK's face as he had got his first glimpse of Arnav tied up by the kidnappers, the way in which he had fought them & taken Arnav home...And Khushi was waiting for Raksha Bandhan! His smile grew.

Mami hugged NK, asking after his parents and other relatives. She was literally jumping with joy. Mamaji yawned, wondering how many days this Namuuna would be staying to entertain him. Buaji was about to bless him saying 'Jeeyath Raho Babua', but before she could say it, NK said anxiously, "Main Jee Raha Hoon, Buaji!" Everyone laughed. Akash and Arnav hugged him.

"Khushiji said that you are both going to get married again on the 13^th, on Diwali?"

"Yes.", said Akash, bashful.

"Great! I will get to see your barbadi."

"Barbadi nahin, Nanheji! Shaadi, shaadi...", said Khushi.

"Koi Baath Nahin, Bitwaa...", said Mamaji. "Dono Ek Hi He!"

In the ensuing laughter, Khushi warned Nanheji. "Be ready, Nanheji. Today evening, at the sangeet, there will be many girls here."

NK's face lit up. "Beautiful girls?"

"Very beautiful girls. Be very careful. Or they will carry you off."

NK grinned, thrilled to bits. Arnav shook his head at his naivety. Had he ever been this young? No, never.

Breakfast was noisy. Munna, Krishna, NK, Khushi, Di, Maamiji, Maamaji, Buaji, Amma...they were all in their element. They were listing songs to be sung & danced to during the sangeet, and NK was wondering if it would be possible to build a stage at one end of the courtyard. While they were discussing the myriad possibilities and Mami was demonstrating her dance moves, Anand walked in. He was greeted with great joy. Khushi and Payal ran to touch his feet, racing to see who would reach him first. Buaji & Amma hugged him and made him sit down with the others at the breakfast table. Arnav smiled at him, nodding his head. Anand smiled in return, and said 'Namaste' to Anjali who had just greeted him with a bright smile on her lips. He was introduced to all the people he hadn't met. He blinked at the bright colour of Mami's sari, the heavy jewellery, and the three roses of different colours adorning her hair. Her Hinglish totally ate up the few words on his tongue. Then came NK.

"Hi! I am Nandkisore. People call me N-K?"

Anand nodded.

"Khushiji said you have hundreds of children. But you are so young. How can...?"

Arnav butted in before NK could put his foot in his mouth. "Anandji runs an orphanage along with his father."

"Oh, that's how. I wondered..."

Anand smiled.

Once Anand had finished answering many questions about small Chotey, he handed over a slip of paper & a packet to Anjali.

"It is the timetable according to which students will be coming to 3C, the room you will be occupying in the school. It is on the ground floor. The packet contains the textbooks you will be teaching. You can go through them and prepare your lessons."

Anjali's face glowed. All the people around the table sat silent, looking at the joy on her face. Anand quietly sipped his sugarless coffee, his eyes on the steaming liquid in his cup, as though unaware of the lifeline he had just dropped to Anjali.

"Shall I serve you breakfast, Bitwaa?", asked Amma.

"Err, no. I had it with my children. I am on my way to the office."

"Bhaiyya, you will come with the children for the sangeet, won't you? This time, you are not to be excused. You missed my sagai. You are not missing Jiji's & my sangeet."

"Sangeet? Oh! Yes, Babuji will bring the children over. I may be late."

Anand got up to leave. Seeing Arnav accompany him out, Amma & Buaji remained in the dining room.

Once away from the crowd and by Anand's bike, Arnav said, "Thank you!"

Anand looked at him surprised.

"For making Di happy."

Anand stood looking at the ground for sometime. Then he said softly, "Anjaliji has a strong maternal streak. The loss of her child must have devastated her."

Arnav nodded.

"Maybe my 236 children will be enough to fill the void in her heart."

NK, Akash, & Mamaji designed a stage at one end of the courtyard, and with the help of the neighbours who had turned up offering help, built it. Arnav, Khushi, Munna, Krishna, & Payal worked in the shop's kitchen, making mountains of Gujia, Gulab jamun, Ghewar, Kheer, Peda, Imarti, Jalebi, Laddoo etc.

No sooner were they placed in the display counter than they were sold out. Khushi quickly made Munna & Krishna carry loads of sweets into the house, to be served to the guests that evening for the sangeet.

Khushi looked at Arnavji. He was filling a tray with jalebis to be taken to the shop, counting them, his lips moving silently. She looked around. Jiji had gone to the store to get almonds. They were alone in the room. She got up from her seat, and ran towards Arnavji. He looked at her, startled. She placed her hands on his shoulders, rose up on her tip toes, and gave his cheek a sound, smacking kiss. Before he could react, she ran back to her post and took up the ladle, her eyes lowered to the jalebis. Her face was a becoming red colour.

She looked at him. He was standing near the tray, a jalebi in hand, looking at her with an astounded expression on his face.

"I am sorry, Arnavji.", she looked suitably penitent.

"Err... Why?"

"I made you forget the count. You will have to start from one again.", she laughed.

They heard Payal approaching the room.

"I will get you for that.", Arnav whispered, a naughty look on his face. His hand touched his cheek where she had kissed him. Khushi looked like a jalebi, all red and sweet.

The cooks were already preparing the special dinner, big pots and pans bubbling away on their stoves. NK was peeping into each & every pot, trying to identify the dish being prepared, and coming up with outlandish names. Buaji, dicing vegetables, was having the time of her life, laughing at him. Amma, Mami, Nani, & Anjali were preparing lunch in their kitchen, talking and laughing.

Later, when Arnav came into the house to place his phone in his room, Buaji gave him nimboo pani with salt in it. Amma made him sit at the dining table to drink it. He listened to the ladies chattering away, telling tall tales, laughing at Mami's jokes and Buaji's memories of her sangeet, and felt at peace.

Buaji came to sit by him.

"Bitwaa, normally there is tension in the girl's house and anxiety in the boy's as their wedding nears. We must be the only family that is enjoying the wedding to the fullest, both families together, under one roof. Sach, Nandkisore! You have a wonderful family, Babua. A wonderful family."

Arnav caught hold of Buaji's hand in his own.

"I do, Buaji. And you, Amma, & Babuji are part of it."

The house was full that evening. Neighbours, relations including Chachaji and all the children who wanted to come, the two families..., they filled the house. Music, laughter, conversation, lights, flowers, the ladies dressed in colourful suits, sarees, and lehengas, the men in kurtas, the smell of delicious food, all combined to make the evening special.

Arnav looked delicious. That was the only word that suited him, decided Khushi. As delicious as the sweets she made. The midnight blue sherwani made him look like a prince. Arnav looked at Khushi.

The flowing lines of her dark blue lehenga, the flimsy dori holding up the back... His fingers itched to pull the dori open.

The sangeet was a riot. NK danced to Bacchna E Haseeno, looking debonair in his light blue sherwani.

Many young hearts in the audience were thrown at his feet, many eyes lingered with appreciation on his handsome face & figure. He felt like a hero, and enjoyed his few minutes in the limelight till Di pulled him off the stage with great difficulty. Buaji and Nani danced to Nain Lad Jayen He, the old Dilip Kumar song, with Nani dressed as a man. The crowd loved it, Mamaji whistling and instructing Anand's children on how to whistle. Anand walked in late to see his children & NK dancing in the courtyard to the Kajra Mohabbatwala danced on stage by Anjaliji and Khushi, and whistling away in glory. His thin lips twisted in a smile. Arnav had a similar smile on his lips as he watched his Di and his wife-to-be have fun on stage, amply encouraged by the catcalls and whistles of the children & the neighbourhood aunties.

Nani & NK danced to Jab Se Mere Dil Ko Uff, and rocked the floor. Mami, Payal in a green lehenga, Akash in a red sherwani, Khushi, & the children kept pace with them on the ground.

Arnav looked at Khushi dancing in abandon, her lehenga flying around her, her hair forming a fluffy cloud around her shoulders. She was in her element with the kids, ably egged on by none other than his own Mami. He shook his head, trying to keep the revealing smile from his lips. Such a naughty, precious, fun-loving bundle she was. He was damn lucky.

Soon the party spread all over the house, the children dancing on & off stage to Chinta Tha Tha, and all adults clapping their hands and joining them. Arnav slowly made his way to the back of the stage. Khushi was standing looking at the children on stage, jumping up and down, clapping her hands in excitement. He gently placed his hand on her shoulder. She turned around to look at him, her eyes wide with surprise.

He was looking so handsome that her heart melted.

"Will you dance with me?", he asked softly in her ear, the look in his eyes causing her to melt into a puddle.

She gulped, and nodded, words beyond her. She turned towards the stage, but he held her back.

"Not here. Not now. After the function is over, on the terrace."

She nodded. His eyes blazed with anticipation.

Part 44:

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