anjali hugged arnav saying "hamare liye?"
khushi seemed happy seeing di smiling again..
anjali "tum hamare liye gulaab leke aye..tumhe kaise pata?"
arnav "di mai janta hun ki ye kiske fav phool hain.."
he continued "di ye vo mai..aj vo khu.."
khushi suddenly moved forward to stop arnav
she just nodded a no telling arnav not to tell di..with happy tears in her eyes..
anjali broke the hug "kya hua chote?" and said smilingly..
arnav felt really happy di calling him chote again and dat too with a smile..
and more happy than him was khushi..
arnav "di..ye apki khushi ke liye..."
anjali "tum is duniya ke sabse ache bhai ho"
she said and left..
khushi came running to him..
arnav "mai duniya ka sabse acha bhai hun.."
khushi smiled and said "ji"
arnav "aur is duniya ka sabse kharab pati"
khushi "di kitni khush thi..woh has rahi thi.."
arnav "haan "
nk "oye nannav..come up bro"
khushi "apko nanheji bula rahe hain"
he turned to go upstairs..
khushi "arnav ji.."
arnav turned "hmmm...?"
khushi "dhanyawaad"
arnav felt better..he smiled and went upstairs.."
nk "where were u?kahin tumne khushiji ko surprise ke baare me bata toh nahi diya?"
arnav "of course not..mera dimag tumhari tarah kharab nahi hai.."
nk "ok ok..so are u ready?"
arnav "no.."he muttered "im nervous"
nk"nannav mere bhai..nervous mat ho..khushiji tumhe kha nahi jaengi.."
arnav on realising that he had said it aloud "nk..go."
nk "mai khushiji ko 15 min me upar bhejta hoon" and left..
arnav waiting in their room for her..
he roamed about nervously "dammit..wats wrong..itna nervous toh mai sabsi badi deal sign karte samay bhi nahi hua.."
khushi entered "arnavji apki daw.."
she was shocked at the sight she saw..
arnav was practising his dance all alone..
arnav didnt hear that as he was so engrossed and could imagine khushi in his arms"
khushi dropped the tray...and fainted ..
arnav came running to her "khushi khushi..wat happened.."
he slapped her cheeks lightly..
khushi opened one eye keeping the other closed "ye aap kya kar rahe the?"
arnav realised that khushi saw him and he got nervous suddenly..
"woh mai..woh mai.."
khushi "apko hua kya hai?aj subah se har bat atak atak ke bol rahe hain.."
arnav "nahi..aisa nahi hai..woh mai tumhe..actually mai tumse.."
khushi "woh mai tumse kyaaa??chaliye chodiye hum apke liye dawai laye the.."
she got up...and went to take the jug and his glass from the poolside..
she went there and was surprised to see the decorations..
petals of red roses lay all over the poolside..the fairy lights everywhere..the stars..
a beautiful cake..
she stepped dere and as soon as she did..beautiful red petals were showered on her from the top..
she saw a table with 2 chairs probably for dinner..
khushi was thrilled...
she turned around.."arnav ji ye apne?"
arnav "haan"
she came running upto him..
and in excitement slipped over the poolside entrance..
she tried to catch hold of him..
and closed her eyes..
when she opened her eyes she was lying on top of arnav clutching his shirt..
they both looked at each other and burst into laughter..
khushi "dhanyawaad arnavji" she said shyly and looked away..
arnav held her from her chin making her look into his eyes..
arnav "dance??"
khushi excitedly nodded "hanji"
arnav "uske liye tumhe mere upar se uthna padega"
she stood up and gave her hand to arnav...
they moved towards the poolside and danced.. a slow romantic one..
while dancing it started raining heavily..
arnav was irritated as usual..
"damn it damn it.."
khushi went running inside...
she called out to him "arnavji andar aa jaiye"
he went inside angry at his own plan.."it was a stupid plan"
khushi "baithiye"
she told him to sit on the recliner..
she got a towel and started drying his hair..
arnav sneezed...
khushi "apko itne jaldi sardi ho gai..kitne kamzor hain ap..ye sab shakkar na khane ka nateeja hai"
arnav holding her wrist and bringing her to face him..
and then khushi sneezed...
they started laughing..
khushi "hum hp ji ko chai lane kehte hain"
as soon as she opened the door there stood hp with a tray of tea and hot pakoras with green chutney.."
khushi had a big smile on her face..
she told him to keep it on the table..
he kept it and left..
khushi "chaliye arnavji..chai aa gayi"
arnav "itne jaldi kaise?"
she drank tea..and ate the pakoras..
arnav looked at her in amazement..
she moved towards him and made him eat the pakoras..
khushi sneezed again..
arnav "tum kapde badal aao"
she opened the cupboard...and saw a big gift wrap..
she opened it and saw the same white saree and a similar red blouse she wore that night in the hut..
she looked at arnav..
arnav kept staring at her with his one sided smile..
she looked away blushing..
he moved towards her..
and whispered in her ears "happy birthday mrs.arnav singh raizada...aj mai tumhe chahe kitne bhi gift de doon mujhe apni life ka sabse keemti tohfa usi raat sheesh mahal me mil gaya tha..aur woh mujhe boht pasand hai..mai use hamesha apne samne dekhna chahta hoon..6 mahine k liye nahi..hamesha hamesha k liye.."
"kuch rishte ajeeb hote hain..takraar se shuru hote hain..nafrat ke saaye me panapte hain..girte hain..padhte hain..par hamesha kayam rehte hain..bhale hi unki neev nafrat pe rakhi gayi ho..woh kabhi nahi toot te..hamare beech kuch toh hai jo meri itni nafrat ke baad hume aur paas lata gaya..hum dono ki ek dusre se door jane ki koshish utna hi kareeb lati gayi..is pyaar ko ek mauka dena chahogi?is rishte ko ek mauka?"
khushi looked at him..and cupping his face..kissed his cheek lightly..
and said "hum tayyar hain arnavji..woh mauka dene ke liye"
Book Talk
Aami Daakini
10