FF: Arhi: The way IPK should've been[Ch9/Sc3 pg99] - Page 63

*None of my work can be copied without explicit written permission from me. It's not polite to steal ideas.*

Writer's note: Hey people! You might see a few strokes of mystery wrapping up the coming chapters. Please just go along the flow 😊 Even if there aren't scenes with Arshi in them, the dialogues between family members is important for the story to progress.

In this scene, the Jackass refers to poor Aman 😆 King and Queen? Ah, patience! it will be unveiled in the next scene 😉

enjoy!! And yes, please leave some feedback for me to update quickly! If you need a pm for the next update, please add me as a buddy!

cheers!

Chapter 9 Scene 2

[Gupta House, two days later]

Khushi is in the open kitchen in the courtyard sitting deep in discussion with Shuklaji, going through the final menu for Aman's birthday party. They are debating if they should prepare malai kofta or matar paneer when the phone starts ringing in the house. Khushi waits for a few seconds thinking Buaji will pick up the phone. When after the 10^th ring also nobody picks up, she excuses herself from Shukla ji and runs inside the house.

"Hello!" Khushi says breathlessly into the receiver. But she can't hear anything. "Hello?" she persists. Again no response. "Arre koi hai kya?" her tone becomes annoyed.

Just then Buaji walks out of the bathroom, he hair wrapped around in a towel, and stares at Khushi yelling into the phone.

"Humein kuch sunai nahin de raha! Hello?" Khushi yells loudly. Buaji walks up to her and snatches the phone out of a her hands. Khushi jumps in shock.

"Parmeswari! Phone ulta pakdogi to sunai kaise dega?" Buaji says exasperatedly and flips the phone 180 degrees. Khushi stares. Apparently she had been yelling into the earphone and not the mic. She sheepishly takes the phone from her and says politely, "Hello?"

"Khuseee! Hum Amma bol rahe hain. Itna samaye kyun lag gaya?" comes the concerned voice of Garima from the other end.

"Amma! Kuch nahin, woh phone ki taar mein kuch gadbad ho gai thi isiliye sunai nahin de raha tha humein," Khushi replies, glancing at Buaji from the corner of her eye. Buaji shakes her head and heads off to offer her prayers.

"Khusee, tumre bauji ko hum parson hospital mein admit karwa rahat hain. Chikitsa Camp to aaj samapt hui jawega." Khushi brightens up immediately.

"Ye to bahut badhiya khabar sunai aapne Amma! Humara bhi aaj ek kaam bacha hai. Woh poora hote hi, contract ke baaki paise mil jayenge. Aap ek baar apna account dekh lena Amma, humne paise dalwa diye hain," Khushi replies.

"Haan bitiya hum dekh lenge. Tumne aur Payal ne kitni mehnat ki hai iss ek hafte mein. Hum prarthna karte hain ki operation theek se ho jaye ab." Garima sounds close to tears.

"Amma, aap itni chinta mat karo. Jeeji aur hum aapke liye betiyan bhi hain aur bete bhi. Aap bas hospital ke kaam shuru kara do. Hum bhi Lucknow ke liye kal subah nikal rahe hain," Khushi replies assuredly.

"Theek hai bitiya. Acha hum rakhte hain," Garima bids her goodbyes and keeps the phone down. Khushi immediately runs towards the courtyard again before bumping heavily into Buaji.

"Haye re NandKishore!" Buaji exclaims irritatedly. "Aise train ke maafik kyun daud rahi ho Sanaka Devi?" Khushi manouvers around the big frame of Buaji, "bahut kaam hai aaj Buaji! Baad mein baat karenge!" and continues rushing towards the courtyard.

[Raizada Mansion, two days later]

All the family members are sitting in the lounge. Naniji looks much better than last time.

"Shradh poojan ke liye sab tayyariyan ho gayi hain?" Dadi asks Anjali who nods in reply.

"Nandkishore?" Dadi turns to NK, who shrinks down in fear. "Aapne Lucknow jane ki tickets kab ki karwai hain?"

"Dadi ji, tickets to Wednesday ki hain. Naniji ne bataya tha ki Shradh Friday ko hai." NK replies as non-exuberantly as possible. Dadi nods. Just then Arnav walks down the stairs in his business formals talking to someone on the phone. Dadi immediately summons him closer. Arnav disconnects his call and comes closer to the gathering.

"Haan Dadi?" he asks.

"Arnav, hum sab Lucknow ke liye budhwaar ko nikal rahe hain. Aap Sheesh Mahal mein pooja rakhne ke liye baat kar chuke hain?" Dadi asks Arnav.

"Dadi, main aapko batana bhul gaya. Sheesh Mahal mein iss waqt kuch important dignitaries reh rahe hain. To pooja wahan karna possible nahin hoga." Arnav replies. Dadi looks affronted.

"Par humne aapse kaha tha ki -"

"Isiliye maine socha ki pooja Purani Haveli mein karna sahi rahega," Arnav finishes smoothly before Dadi can complete her sentence. Everybody looks around surprised.

"Purani Haveli?" Anjali looks up recollecting the name. "Dadi, ye to wohi jagah hai na -"

"Jahan aapka bachpan beeta hai," Dadi nods with a small smile on her face. She looks at Arnav in appreciation. "Chaliye, ye bhi sahi nirnaye liya aapne Arnav. Humein to laga ki aap Lucknow jane se hi inkaar kar rahe the."

"Kuch bhi assume nahin karna chahiye Dadi," Arnav replies bluntly. "Maine wahan ke caretakers ko message pahuncha diya hai ki ghar ki safai wagerah karwa dein." He looks around everyone and when no one comments, he wordlessly walks out the main door to go to office.

[Cut to Purani Haveli, Lucknow]

A wizened old man walks to his son's room and calls out for him.

"Raghav! O Raghav!" A young man with a broad frame and powerful built walks out confidently.

"Ji Baba? Aapne bulaya?" his voice is contradictorially soft.

"Dilli se phone aaya tha. Mallik Parivar yahan wapis aa raha hai. Haveli ki saaf safai karwani hai beta," the old man mumbles laboriously. Raghav nods in understanding.

"Theek hai Baba. Main kaam shuru karwa deta hun. Saare kamre khulwa dun kya?" Raghav enquires. The old man looks up as if something struck in his mind.

"Bas neeche wali kothri mat kholna," the old man explains carefully. Raghav nods and leaves for the Haveli to start off with the work.

As the old man looks at his son's retreating back, a 14 year old memory flashes back in his mind. It was the night when the younger Mallik brother had forcibly thrown out his mother, niece and nephew out of Sheesh Mahal. Subhadra Devi had brought the kids along with her to Purani Haveli. She had given an old trunk to him. "Dinanath, iss bakse ko kothri mein rakhwa do. Aur kothri mein kisi ko bhi jane mat dena." He had looked at her and the trunk in confusion but hadn't dared to ask her any questions. The same night, there had been a big argument between Subhadra Devi and her grandson Arnav baba. In the dead of the night, a car had pulled up in the driveway of Purani Haveli and within the next hour, both Anjali bitiya and Arnav Baba had gone away in the car. Subhadra Devi didn't live in the Haveli much longer after that. She too left for the Ashram.

And now all of them were returning to this house again.

The old man Dinanath sighed.

[Raizada House , later in the evening]

Arnav has returned from office early and is in his room. He has been very quiet off late and the whole house has noticed the change in his behaviour. But of course, no one has commented because they know Arnav wasn't the kind who'd sit and talk about his feelings. Arnav's phone rings, but he rejects the call and quickly switches the phone off. He's just not in he frame of mind to talk to anyone. He needs some peace of mind.

In the sitting lounge, the cordless phone rings. Anjali picks it up.

"Hello? Anjali ji? Main Aman bol raha hun," Aman's voice comes on the other side of the phone. Anjali smiles and they exchange plesantaries for a few moments.

"Anjali ji, Arnav Sir ka phone switched off hai aur main unhe kafi time se contact karne ke koshish kar raha hun. Kya aap unse confirm kar dengi please, ki woh party mein aa rahe hain ya nahin?" Aman requests Anjali who looks surprised.

"Aaj koi party hai? Chotey ne to humein kuch nahin bataya," Anjali replies surprised.

"Haan woh actually," Aman hesitates for a moment, "aaj meri birthday party hai." Anjali immediately wishes him. "Thank you Anjali ji. I know Sir ne ek baar mana kar diya hai. But I just wanted to confirm with him one final time..." Anjali understands immediately.

"Aap chinta mat kariye Aman ji. Hum Chotey se baat karenge." She puts the phone down and walks towards Arnav's room.

"Chotey! Ye hum kya sun rahe hain? Tum party mein nahin ja rahe ho?" Arnav looks up at his sister in surprise.

"Aapko paty ke bare mein kaise pata chala?" he asks in wonder.

"Humein sab khabar rehti hai," Anjali grins and walks closer. Arnav's face falls back into a deadpan expression.

"Mujhe mann nahin hai Di," he mumbles. Anjali caresses his head lovingly.

"Chotey, jo kuch bhi ho gaya, uske wajah se duniya ruk to nahin jati hai na?" she mumbles kindly. "Hum jante hain, ki tum office mein bhale hi apne aap ko kaam mein busy kar lo, ghar mein to tum aise akele hi baithe rehte ho. Kisi se baat nahin karte, saath khana nahin khaate... Aisa kitne dino tak chalega Chotey?" Arnav doesn't say anything.

"Tumhe jana chahiye. Aman ka birthday hai aaj. Usne tumhare liye, poore office ke liye itni badi party rakhi hai," Anjali continues. Arnav suddenly sniggers much to her surprise.

"Aman ka birthday aaj nahin December mein hai," Arnav mutters.

"Aaj nahin hai matlab?" Anjali asks in confusion.

"Matlab maine Aman ko kaha tha apne birthday ki party aaj dene ke liye. Taki woh catering ka contract Shuklaji ko de sake," Arnav replies boisteriously. Anjali's jaw drops.

"Matlab... Aman ne itni badi party bas tumhare kehne par organize ki hai?" Arnav nods in reply. "Aur tum wahan jane bhi nahin wale?" Arnav nods again but warily this time as he notices Anjali's nostrils flare in annoyance. "Chotey! Tum, tum bilkul pagal ho!" Arnav raises his eyebrow.

"Excuse me?" But Anjali is really annoyed now.

"Kya excuse me? Tumne bechare Aman se ek jhooth mooth ki birthday party dene ko kaha aur unhone bhi gadhon ke tarah chup chap tumhari baat maan li! Aur ab tum unki party mein jane bhi nahin wale ho. Wah! Boss ho to tumhare jaisa Chotey," Arnav's eyebrows relax and he looks up guiltily at Anjali. She continues glaring at him.

"Aap relax karo Di please. Itna gussa aapki sehat ke liye theek nahin hai," Arnav says concernedly.

"Tum party mein ja rahe ho, ya nahin?" Anjali asks in a determined voice, ignoring his brother's concern. Finally, Arnav relents.

"Fine Di, I'll go!" Arnav mutters resignedly. Anjali's demeanour changes instantly and she beams a huge smile. Arnav looks up in shock. She quickly pinches his cheek and happily walks out of the room.

Arnav shakes his head, "unbelievable!"

ENGLISH VERSION

Chapter 9 Scene 2

[Gupta House, two days later]

Khushi is in the open kitchen in the courtyard sitting deep in discussion with Shuklaji, going through the final menu for Aman's birthday party. They are debating if they should prepare malai kofta or matar paneer when the phone starts ringing in the house. Khushi waits for a few seconds thinking Buaji will pick up the phone. When after the 10^th ring also nobody picks up, she excuses herself from Shukla ji and runs inside the house.

"Hello!" Khushi says breathlessly into the receiver. But she can't hear anything. "Hello?" she persists. Again no response. "Is somebody there?" her tone becomes annoyed.

Just then Buaji walks out of the bathroom, he hair wrapped around in a towel, and stares at Khushi yelling into the phone.

"I can't hear anything! Hello?" Khushi yells loudly. Buaji walks up to her and snatches the phone out of a her hands. Khushi jumps in shock.

"Parmeswari! How will you hear anything if you hold the phone upside down?" Buaji says exasperatedly and flips the phone 180 degrees. Khushi stares. Apparently she had been yelling into the earphone and not the mic. She sheepishly takes the phone from her and says politely, "Hello?"

"Khuseee! This is Amma here. Why did it take you so long to talk?" comes the concerned voice of Garima from the other end.

"Amma! Nothing, uhm, I think there was some problem with the wiring of the phone, so I couldn't hear you," Khushi replies, glancing at Buaji from the corner of her eye. Buaji shakes her head and heads off to offer her prayers.

"Khusee, I'm taking your father to the hospital day after tomorrow to get him admitted. The medical camp will end today." Khushi brightens up immediately.

"This is wonderful news Amma! I too have one last catering work tonight. As soon as it wraps up, I'll get paid the remaining money for the contract. Please check your bank account once Amma, I've deposited the money in it," Khushi replies.

"Yes dear, I'll check it. You and Payal have worked so hard in this past one week. I pray the operation goes well now." Garima sounds close to tears.

"Amma, don't worry so much. Jeeji and I are as good as sons as we are daughters for you. You get the formalities started in the hospital. I'll start for Lucknow by tomorrow morning," Khushi replies assuredly.

"Alright bitiya. I'll go now," Garima bids her goodbyes and keeps the phone down. Khushi immediately runs towards the courtyard again before bumping heavily into Buaji.

"Haye re NandKishore!" Buaji exclaims irritatedly. "Why are you running around like a train, Sanaka Devi?" Khushi manouvers around the big frame of Buaji, "I have a lot of work to finish Buaji! I'll talk to you later!" and continues rushing towards the courtyard.

[Raizada Mansion, two days later]

All the family members are sitting in the lounge. Naniji looks much better than last time.

"Are all the preparations done for the Shradh poojan?" Dadi asks Anjali who nods in reply.

"Nandkishore?" Dadi turns to NK, who shrinks down in fear. "what dates have you booked our tickets to Lucknow on?"

"Dadi ji, tickets are for Wednesday. Naniji told me that Shradh is on Friday." NK replies as non-exuberantly as possible. Dadi nods. Just then Arnav walks down the stairs in his business formals talking to someone on the phone. Dadi immediately summons him closer. Arnav disconnects his call and comes closer to the gathering.

"Yes Dadi?" he asks.

"Arnav, We'll be starting for Lucknow on WEdnesday. Have you confirmed with your people about keeping the pooja at Sheesh Mahal?" Dadi asks Arnav.

"Dadi, I forgot to tell you. Some important dignitaries are staying at Sheesh Mahal right now. So organizing the Pooja there will not be possible." Arnav replies. Dadi looks affronted.

"But I told you -"

"That is why I decided that we'll have the pooja at the Purani Haveli," Arnav finishes smoothly before Dadi can complete her sentence. Everybody looks around surprised.

"Purani Haveli?" Anjali looks up recollecting the name. "Dadi, isn't this the place where -"

"where you spent your childhood, dear," Dadi nods with a small smile on her face. She looks at Arnav in appreciation. "This was a good decision Arnav. I thought you changed your mind about going to Lucknow itself."

"One should never assume anything, Dadi," Arnav replies bluntly. "I've sent word to the caretakers to have the Haveli cleaned and pepped up in time." He looks around everyone and when no one comments, he wordlessly walks out the main door to go to office.

[Cut to Purani Haveli, Lucknow]

A wizened old man walks to his son's room and calls out for him.

"Raghav! O Raghav!" A young man with a broad frame and powerful built walks out confidently.

"Yes Baba? You called?" his voice is contradictorially soft.

"I got a phone call from Delhi. Mallik Family is coming back here. The Haveli needs to be cleaned up son," the old man mumbles laboriously. Raghav nods in understanding.

"Sure Baba. I'll get the work started. Should I get all the rooms opened?" Raghav enquires. The old man looks up as if something struck in his mind.

"Except for the old store room in the basement," the old man explains carefully. Raghav nods and leaves for the Haveli to start off with the work.

As the old man looks at his son's retreating back, a 14 year old memory flashes back in his mind. It was the night when the younger Mallik brother had forcibly thrown out his mother, niece and nephew out of Sheesh Mahal. Subhadra Devi had brought the kids along with her to Purani Haveli. She had given an old trunk to him. "Dinanath, have this box kept in the basement store room. And do not allow anyone to go in there." He had looked at her and the trunk in confusion but hadn't dared to ask her any questions. The same night, there had been a big argument between Subhadra Devi and her grandson Arnav baba. In the dead of the night, a car had pulled up in the driveway of Purani Haveli and within the next hour, both Anjali bitiya and Arnav Baba had gone away in the car. Subhadra Devi didn't live in the Haveli much longer after that. She too left for the Ashram.

And now all of them were returning to this house again.

The old man Dinanath sighed.

[Raizada House , later in the evening]

Arnav has returned from office early and is in his room. He has been very quiet off late and the whole house has noticed the change in his behaviour. But of course, no one has commented because they know Arnav wasn't the kind who'd sit and talk about his feelings. Arnav's phone rings, but he rejects the call and quickly switches the phone off. He's just not in he frame of mind to talk to anyone. He needs some peace of mind.

In the sitting lounge, the cordless phone rings. Anjali picks it up.

"Hello? Anjali ji? This is Aman here," Aman's voice comes on the other side of the phone. Anjali smiles and they exchange plesantaries for a few moments.

"Anjali ji, Arnav Sir's phone is switched off and I've been trying to contact him for a long time. Can you please confirm with him if he is indeed not interested to come for the party?" Aman requests Anjali who looks surprised.

"Is there a party tonight? Chotey didn't tell me anything," Anjali replies surprised.

"Yes, actually," Aman hesitates for a moment, "it's my birthday party tonight." Anjali immediately wishes him. "Thank you Anjali ji. I know Sir has already refused once. But I just wanted to confirm with him one final time..." Anjali understands immediately.

"Don't worry, Aman ji. I'll speak to Chotey." She puts the phone down and walks towards Arnav's room.

"Chotey! What is this I'm hearing? You're not going for the party?" Arnav looks up at his sister in surprise.

"How did you come to know about the party?" he asks in wonder.

"I know everything," Anjali grins and walks closer. Arnav's face falls back into a deadpan expression.

"I'm not in the mood to go, Di," he mumbles. Anjali caresses his head lovingly.

"Chotey, whatever happened, life shouldn't come to a standstill because of it, should it?" she mumbles kindly. "I know that despite keeping yourself completely busy with work in your office, at home you just sit alone like this, all by yourself. You don't talk to anyone, you have stopped eating with us... For how long is this going to go on, Chotey?" Arnav doesn't say anything.

"You should go, it's Aman's birthday today. He's thrown such a huge soiree for you and for the entire staff," Anjali continues. Arnav suddenly sniggers much to her surprise.

"Aman's birthday isn't today. It's in December," Arnav mutters.

"What do you mean, it is not today?" Anjali asks in confusion.

"It means, I asked Aman to throw a party for his birthday tonight. So that he can give the catering contract to Shukla ji," Arnav replies boisteriously. Anjali's jaw drops.

"Meaning... Aman threw such a big party JUST because you asked him to?" Arnav nods in reply. "And you don't even intend on going?" Arnav nods again but warily this time as he notices Anjali's nostrils flare in annoyance. "Chotey! you're completely mad!" Arnav raises his eyebrow.

"Excuse me?" But Anjali is really annoyed now.

"What excuse me? You asked Aman to throw a fake birthday party, and he too listened to you like an idiot! And you don't even want to go to that party now. Wow! If only every boss would've been like you, Chotey," Arnav's eyebrows relax and he looks up guiltily at Anjali. She continues glaring at him.

"Please relax, Di. It's not good for your health to be so angry," Arnav says concernedly.

"Are you going to the party or not?" Anjali asks in a determined voice, ignoring his brother's concern. Finally, Arnav relents.

"Fine Di, I'll go!" Arnav mutters resignedly. Anjali's demeanour changes instantly and she beams a huge smile. Arnav looks up in shock. She quickly pinches his cheek and happily walks out of the room.

Arnav shakes his head, "unbelievable!"

NEXT CHAPTER (click)

omg!!! i got the 3rd slot! wow! unbelievable😉😆