Learning The Alphabet... Arshi Style! [COMPLETED] - Page 2

She arranged the thaals nicely before Devi Maiyya's moorti and gave orders to Hari Prakash about what to do next. She smiled radiantly at her favourite deity. It was her second holi in Shaantivan but this time, no one was angry at her and her father was well too.

"Khushiji? Sab taiyyaariyan ho gayin?" Anjali came up, holding her baby daughter. Khushi smiled and nodded before she started chattering about how she used to celebrate holi before her marriage. Soon after, they did the pooja, and most of the family members went out to prepare for the day. (Khushiji? Is everything ready?)

Khushi sighed and went upstairs to her room where her Laad Governor was hiding from the colours. She found him sitting on the recliner stiffly, pretending to study some files but she knew he was alert, watching out for anyone who would try to sprinkle the least pinch of colour on his impeccable mocha-coloured shirt and tan chinos.

She changed into a beige and pale pink salwaar and returned to the room. Arnav glanced at her suspiciously before he wordlessly went back to his files. Khushi grinned naughtily and snatched the file from him.

"What the-? Khushi file vaapas do!" (...Khushi, return me the file!)

"Ek shart pe! Aap neeche aayenge hamaare saath holi khelne!" (On one condition! You'll come and play holi with us downstairs!)

"Dimaag kharaab hogaya tumhaara? Give me the file, dammit!" (Have you lost it?..)

"Nahin!" (No!)

"Khushi this is not funny!" he bellowed loudly enough to scare her.

Her expression fell and she threw the file at his feet. Arnav caught her wrist and pulled him to her. "Khushi, look... Last year, main aaya tha, na? Mujhe yeh sab pasand nahin hai, you know I don't..." (... I had come last year, hadn't I? I don't like all this,...)

She pouted, extracting a grin from him. He bent down, intending to kiss her but NK chose that moment to enter their room.

"Nannav, mere bhai!"

"Oh! Not again!" Arnav moaned. Khushi disengaged herself deftly and left Arnav alone with his cousin. Great! Now he was stuck with NK and his dear wife was upset with him. But that was not a reason enough to celebrate holi, because he knew that he would resemble a work of Picasso before it was noon.

***

"Voh Laad Governor aaj ke din bhi ukhre hain!" (That Laad Governor is sulking even today!)

"Khushiji? Yeh aap kya barbaraa rahin hain?" Anjali's voice jerked her out of her thoughts. Khushi explained that Arnav didn't want to come down and play holi with them. (Khushiji? What are you saying?)

"Hmm... Chhote ko neeche to laana hi padega!" (We'll have to bring Chhote downstairs!)

"Di? Humein lagta hain, humein iska upaay mil gaya..." (Di? I think I have found a solution...)

***

Arnav was sitting on the wicker recliner by the poolside, barking orders at Aman and he did not even hear Khushi enter the room. She sneaked up behind him, slyly, then, all of a sudden, brushed her hand across his jaw smearing it with red colour. His favourite.

But Laad Governor was not impressed at all. Instead he glared at her with a warning, swallowing his expletive. Khushi turned away angrily as the hurt seeped in. She could tolerate anything for this man and he was flustered at her just because of holi?

She thought of leaving the room but her arm was caught in his hand. Before she could turn to look at him and ask what he wanted, he had rubbed his palm against hers and caressed her cheek, streaking hers with a mark similarly to his. Arnav grinned as her jaw dropped and her eyes widened.

"Khush?" (Happy?)

"Bohot!" a voice erupted behind him. He felt another hand against his cheek. He turned to see Anjali smiling at both of them. "Happy holi, Chhote!" (Very...)

She had painted half of his face a deep shade of blue. Argh!

"Di! Aap bhi?" he hissed in frustration while his sister and wife high-fived conspiratorially. So now they were teaming up against him? (Di! You too?)

The two women of his life giggled, their arms entertwined.

"Bechaare Chhote!" Khushi exclaimed at his 'What-the' expression. (Poor Chhote!)

And she and Anjali burst into helpless giggles. Slowly, a smirk birthed in his mind as he got an evil idea too...