Khushi slumps down on the floor, gaping at the open box in front of her. Nandini gaze keeps flitting between Khushi's face and the saree. She can gather that much that it's been a huge shock and yet there's a strange familiarity in the way Khushi's staring at it. Nandini slowly reaches out to Khushi and gently shakes her shoulder.
"Kya hua?" she enquires. Khushi looks at Nandini wordlessly.
"Ye to wohi saree hai... par ye kaise... ye kisne..." she stutters, her eyes clouded with confusion. Okay, so Khushi does recognise this saree from somewhere before. Khushi starts biting her lower lip in trepidation. Then she tentatively opens the sticker on the box and reads it again. Ye tum par sach mein bahut jachegi... those were the exact words spoken by the salesman who was showing her the saree.
So obviously it must've been bought by someone who was sitting close to her. Khushi immediately forms a mental list. Anjaliji aur Mamiji the to humare bagal mein, par woh to chickankaari ki sadiyan dekh rahe the. Nahin woh nahin ho sakte. She knows for sure they couldn't have overheard the other salesman who was sitting far from them. Who else was there? Nanhe ji? She wonders idly. But didn't he walk in much later? Jab Anjaliji aur Mamiji bill bhar rahe the, Khushi remembers. Suddenly she turns to Nandini who is staring at her with raised eyebrows.
"Nandiniji, uss din jab hum khareedari karne gaye the, tab aapne Nanhe ji ko humare paas bheja tha?" Khushi asks. Nandini nods her head. "Aapke saath aur kaun kaun the?" Nandini frowns at Khushi's question.
"Aakash aur Payal," she replies cautiously. Khushi heart starts racing.
"A..aur?" she stutters. Nandini looks utterly lost now.
"Aur kaun Khushi? Tum, Anjaliji, woh moti Mamiji aur Arnav store ke andar the. Main, Payal, Aakash aur NK bahar ice cream kha rahe the. Aur kaun tha hamare saath?" she reels off impatiently, keeps the saree separately and picks up the next bag to be unpacked. Khushi's eyes widen. "Tum, Anjaliji, woh moti Mamiji aur Arnav store ke andar the."
Khushi again looks at the saree, its black stones glinting by her bedside lamp, feeling an eerie cold shiver run all through her body as realisation sets in.
A...Arnavji? she wonders blankly.
Just then Buaji walks in the room, wearing her thick spectacles and holding a file in her hands. "Parmeswari!" she exclaims, snapping Khushi out of her trance. "yiihan ka kaam khatam hui jaye na to tanik humri madad kari diyo. Yii kagazaat hum Mishraji ko dikhaye rahi aur woo bole sab theek hai. Par dastakhat kahan karna hai, humein yaad nahin aa raha hai," Buaji mutters looking befuddled.
Khushi stands up and takes the file from Buaji curiously. "Ye kaun se kagazaat hain?" she asks.
"Ohh, yii iss ghar ke kagaz hain. Arnav bitwa yii ghar humre naam kar rahe hain," Buaji replies with a happy smile. Khushi stares at her completely shocked.
"K..kya?" she stutters. Buaji starts walking towards the dining room, Khushi immediately follows her.
"Haan, woh aaj subah aaye rahe yii kagazaat lekar. Humka bole ki kisi wakeel se in kagazon ki jaanch karwa dein aur fir dastakhat karke unko wapis bhijwa dein," Buaji patiently explains and sits down. Khushi too sinks into the chair next to her, feeling utterly lost now.
"Arnavji subah yahan aaye the? Par kab? Hum kahan the?" she asks unable to bear her curiosity any longer.
"Humka kaa pata tum kahan thi Parmeswari! Vimala apne ghar ka pump phir se theek karne bulaye rahi hogi tumka ya phir Happy Singh apna puncture theek karane," Buaji says disapprovingly, but Khushi is unfazed with her reprimands this time as she starts wrapping her mind around what she was hearing. She wordlessly starts leafing through the file. They were indeed the ownership deeds of the house. Then she slowly rests the file on the table. Arnavji sach mein ye ghar Buaji ke naam kar rahe hain.
"Arnav babua humka kahe rahe ki yii ghar humra hi hai aur humra hi rehna chahiye," Buaji emotionally repeats what he had said earlier. Seeing how happy Buaji is a smile slowly creeps up on Khushi's face as well. Just then Garima walks behind them.
"Arre Garima! Wapis aane mein bahut der hui rahi? Sab theek to tha na?" Buaji asks Garima. Khushi's smile fades again as she looks between her mother and Buaji. Garima nods her head.
"Thodi se bheed thi Jeeji. Par acha hua ki Arnav bitwa pehle se appointment le liye the," Garima replies and starts walking towards the kitchen to get started with the dinner preparations. Khushi's ears have picked up the mention of Arnav again and a frission of restlessness starts surging through her again. Ye sab kya ho raha hai? She wonders.
"Amma, aap kis bare mein baat kar rahe ho?" she asks Garima who looks up at Khushi.
"Arre aaj hum tumre bauji ko phyjiotherapy ke doctor ke paas lekar gaye the," Garima explains as she starts fiddling with the utensils. "Aaj alu gobi ki sabji banaye?" she asks Khushi who absent mindedly nods her head but still looks troubled.
"To usme Arnavji ki baat kahan se aai?" she asks wonderingly. Garima exchanges a look with Buaji first and then looks at Khushi whose eyebrows are scrunched together in a confused frown.
"Arnav bitwa hi to woo doctor se appointment karwaye rahe, Khusee," Garima replies. The creases on Khushi's forehead relax but her eyes widen at hearing Garima's words. Her mind starts working on overdrive as she absorbs each piece of information. Arnavji ne ye ghar Buaji ke naam kar diya. Unhone bauji ke liye doctor ka intezaam bhi kiya. Aur woh saree... Khushi stands up from her chair suddenly feeling breathless.
"Acha, Khusee Payalia ka phone aaya tha thodi der pehle. Woo tumka kal apne ghar bulaye rahi, tum usse baat kar lena. Khusee?" Buaji's voice trails off as she notices Khushi has already left her side. Khushi is walking slowly out of the house, her steps carrying her on in a dream like trance; out of the living room, down the stairs, across the courtyard...
"Aaj, hum sab aapse maafi maangne aaye hain. Aur khaas kar ke main"... "Par us pehle decision ke liye, I'm sorry Payal"... "Ms. Gupta ki mother aur mere father ke beech kabhi bhi koi bhi rishta nahi tha"... "She has a clean character and so does her daughter Khushi"... "Arnav bitwa yii ghar humre naam kar rahe hain"... "Arnav bitwa hi to woo doctor se appointment karwaye rahe"...
She pauses by the wrought iron gate leading out to the earthen road by the house. She wraps her fingers around the latch, flinching slightly at the coldness of the metal but holding it tightly. Then she slowly turns around and looks at her home standing erect behind her, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.
Bahut koshish ki aapse nafrat karne ke humne, Arnavji. Par, ab to aapse... nafrat karne ki bhi himmat nahin hoti... Nahin hoti... And Khushi's knees buckle, her feelings finally overwhelming her as she sinks to the ground and arches her back low to bury her face in her hands.
[Raizada Mansion, Next morning]
Aakash and Payal are in their boardroom. Payal is holding his coat in her hands for him to ease his arms inside. As Aakash wears the coat, she murmurs, "Humne aaj Khushi ko yahan bulaya hai, Aakash. Hum usse Karwachauth ke bare mein baat karne wale hain.
He turns around smiling at his wife. "Good. And if everything goes according to plan, main Bhai se kal shaam ko baat karunga."
"Haan, par dekhna unse baat karne mein aapko zyada der na ho, kyunki aapko ghar jaldi aana hai," Payal reminds him, smoothing the lapel of Aakash's coat. Aakash suddenly pulls Payal closer to his chest.
"Wifey kahein, to kal office jaun hi na?" he teasingly asks and laughs as he sees Payal's eyes widen first and then her cheeks blushing a deep shade of red.
[Gupta House, somewhere in the afternoon]
Khushi walks out of her room looking pretty in her pretty pink Anarkali suit. Her long shiny hair is open and her eyes look beautifully defined with kohl, no trace of any lingering redness in them. She looks strikingly beautiful. As she walks into the living room, her gaze falls on the corridor facing the courtyard and she watches the nurse working with her father. Her face lights up with a smile.
"Oooh Khushi!" Nandini's voice distracts Khushi and she turns to look at her friend sitting on the dining table. Nandini is wearing a tee-shirt and pajamas, her hair tied back in a ponytail, her glasses lodged on her head and the newspaper open in front of her. Sitting next to her, Buaji too had her reading glasses lodged up in her head and she too has a newspaper open in front of her. Khushi blinks at seeing such similarity between the two women.
"Good morning Nandiniji!" Khushi wishes her cheerily in a bid to make Nandini forget her silent sobs from the previous night. Thankfully, Nandini smiles at her and Khushi feels relieved in her heart.
"Suprabhat, Khushi," Nandini says appreciatively and winks at her. Khushi immediately looks down at her dress a little consciously.
"Zyada ho gaya kya?" she asks worriedly. Buaji and Nandini exchange a glance and then both start laughing. Khushi narrows her eyes realising Nandini was just teasing her.
"Nahin. Koi aur hoti to zyada lagta. Par tumpe bahut sundar lag raha hai," Nandini replies earnestly with a smile. "Waise tum ja kahan rahi ho?" she asks. Khushi opens her purse making sure she had her phone and wallet inside.
"Hum Jeeji se milne ja rahe hain, Nandiniji. Aap bhi hamare saath chaliye na?" Khushi says eagerly, as the idea of getting her to meet NK strikes her mind. But Nandini shakes her head.
"Sorry, Khushi. I can't. Mujhe apna school dekhne jana hai. Kal se meri job start ho rahi hai," Nandini says regretfully. Khushi sighs.
"Acha theek hai. Chaliye hum aapse shaam ko milte hain phir," Khushi replies and walks out towards the courtyard after bidding her byes to Nandini and Buaji. She hugs Shashi before leaving who happily smiles as he watches his daughter go.
[Raizada Mansion, later in the evening]
NK is lying on the sofa with a beautiful red rose in his hand. He is plucking one petal after the other muttering "She loves me... She loves me not... She loves me... She loves me not..." completely oblivious to a wide eyed Mamiji, a smiling Anjali and an amused Naniji standing right behind him.
"NK Babua?" Mamiji suddenly exclaims as there were only a few petals remaining on the bud.
NK suddenly jumps up shocked and turns around to stare at the three ladies who are now looking first at him and then at the almost deflowered rose. NK looks back at the flower and then back at the three ladies with a sheepish grin. He immediately turns away from them and quietly keeps the flower on the table. He is just about to get up from the sofa when Mamiji and Anjali suddenly sit on either side of him and Mamiji holds his arm in an iron grip, effectively stopping him from moving from his place.
"So NK Babua, yii sab kaa chalat hai?" she asks him scrutinisingly. NK suddenly pales. He glances at Anjali and Nani, who are both trying to stifle their smiles, and then back at Mamiji.
"Kya chal raha hai Maasiji? Kuch bhi to nahin," he shrugs and replies a little too enthusiastically.
"Achha? Subah se hum tumka watch kari rahe," Mami motions two fingers to her eyes, then to NK and then back to her in a "I've got my eyes one you" sign. NK gulps. "Yii tum saare housewa mein flowers ki rain kyun kare rahe?" she points to the petals now scattered on the table and on the carpet too which NK had dropped. He squirms uncomfortably wondering how to get himself out of the situation when he looks across the room and exclaims, "KHUSHI JI!!!"
"Hain? Khushiji?" Mami retorts in surpise and looks around in confusion. NK squiggles out of Mamiji's grip and immediately rushes towards the entrance where Khushi is standing stock still, staring at NK's antics in amazement. Khushi then folds her hands and greets Naniji, Mamiji and Anjali who smile back at her. As soon as the greetings are exchanged, NK grabs Khushi's hand and makes her follow him to the poolside. Khushi looks at the three ladies first and then at NK in utter bewilderment.
"Nanhe ji!" she exclaims when they finally stop by the poolside and NK releases his grip on her wrist. "Aap theek to hain na?" she asks him worriedly, rubbing her wrist and looking at him warily as if he had lost his mind. And true to her suspicions, NK holds his head in his hand and starts pacing frustratingly in front of her.
"Khushiji, main mad ho raha hun!" he mutters. "Aapki friend ne mujhe par jaadu-kona kar diya hai."
"Jadoo -tona, Nanheji," Khushi corrects him and then smiles as she understands what was going on. "To aap Nandini ji ke bare mein soch ke pareshan ho rahe hain." NK stops in his tracks and stares at Khushi as if she had gone crazy.
"Khushiji aapki aur kitni friends se aapne mujhe introduce karwaya hai?" he asks her incredulously. Khushi giggles.
"Woh baat bhi sahi hai. Waise humari kuch saheliyan aur hain, agar aap unse milna chahein to..." Khushi's playful words trail off at the look of horror now flashing on NK's face.
"No! Absolutely not! Aap aisa suggest bhi kaise kar sakti hain Khushiji?"he gasps mortified. "Main Nandiniji ke liye committed hun." Khushi looks at NK's innocent face and stifles the laughter that was threatening to burst out of her. Awww the poor boy was hit hard in love.
"Achha theek hai, hum kisi aur ke bare mein kuch nahin kahenge," Khushi says reassuringly. "Waise acha hua ki aapne humein bata diya ki aap kya mehsoos kar rahe hain. Kyunki humein aage ki mulakaton ke bare mein nayi tarkeeb sochni hogi." NK looks at her confusedly. Khushi smiles reading his facial expressions.
"Nandini ji Dilli aa chuki hain," She whispers conspiratorially. NK's eyes light up on hearing the news and he immediately hugs Khushi in his excitement. Across the poolside, in the hall, the three pairs of eyes grow wide as saucers at watching the public display of affection. Anjali gasps audibly. Just then they hear footsteps from behind them.
"Aap log kya dekh rahe hain?" he asks. Anjali turns around to find Arnav looking at her confusedly.
"Chotey!" she exclaims and taking him by the arm she quickly flips him 180 degrees around, facing him away from NK and Khushi near the poolside.
"Di?" Arnav asks in a baffled voice raising his eyebrows. Anjali peers backwards over her shoulder and sees that NK is no longer embracing Khushi and the two are just talking animatedly now. Anjali sighs in relief. Seriously, a misunderstanding creeping up between Chotey and Khushi was the last thing she wanted right now. She again turns Arnav sharply to face the poolside.
"Okay, seriously now!" Arnav exclaims irritatedly. "What the hell is going on?" Anjali smiles charmingly at her brother.
"Kuch nahin Chotey. Hai na Naniji?" she stutters to Nani, her eyes looking imploringly.
"Haan haan kuch bhi to nahin," Naniji replies exuberantly. Arnav narrows his eyes suspiciously.
"Humka nahin pata iss ghar mein what's happening!" Mami exclaims throwing her hands exasperatedly in the air and walks towards her room. Arnav stares at her huffing and puffing in confusion. What happened to her? He wonders. Shaking his head and muttering something about the craziness going in the house, he heads off straight outside the main door. Anjali sighs again and sits down on the sofa.
Just then NK and Khushi are seen walking towards them, smiling and still talking between themselves. Anjali and Nani watch them with suspicious eyes. Watching the expressions on Anjali and Naniji's face, the smiles on Khushi and NK's face slowly fades. Khushi mumbles about going to meet Payal and NK mumbles something about going out and they both disperse in separate directions.
"Anjali bitiya, lagat hai ki daal mein kuch kala hai," Naniji mutters watching Khushi walk up the stairs.
"Naniji, humein to lag raha hai poori daal hi kaali hai," Anjali replies watching NK sneak out of the main door.
[Payal's room]
Payal is putting her sarees inside her cupboard when Khushi walks in and hugs her from behind.
"Arre tum kab aayi Khushi?" Payal asks looking taken aback at this sudden appearance.
"Abhi thodi der pehle, jeeji. Hum zara Nanhe ji se baat kar rahe the," Khushi replies and sits on Payal's bed patiently waiting for her to keep her sarees inside. Finally, Payal turns around with a smile.
"To Khushi, ghar mein sab kaise hain?" she says as she sits on the bed next to Khushi. Khushi's face becomes deadpan for a moment before she bows her head and starts fiddling running her fingers idly on the bedsheet. The mention of her family members suddenly resurfaces the events of the previous night.
"Sab theek hain Jeeji. Bauji ki physiotherapy shuru ho gayi hai. Hamare yahan aane se pehle humne nurse ko dekha tha," Khushi replies not meeting Payal's eyes, the usual chirpiness missing from her voice. Payal detects something being amiss. She caresses Khushi's cheek.
"Kya hua tumhe, Khushi?" she asks gently. Khushi sighs remembering the emotional turmoil she had gone through the previous night.
Suddenly Khushi lies down resting her head on Payal's lap. Payal again looks taken aback at this, but slowly rests her hand on Khushi's head and caresses it gently. "Khushi?" she ventures worriedly. "Kya hua tumhe?"
"Woh ye sab kyun kar rahe hain, jeeji?" Khushi suddenly starts off without preamble. Payal looks slightly confused but doesn't interrupt her. "Bauji aur Amma aur Buaji ke liye itna kuch kyun kar rahe hain? Woh to humein chod ke chale gaye the na? Phir ab wapis kyun aa gaye? Iss sab ka kya matlab hai Jeeji? Hamare dimag ne kaam karna bilkul band kar diya hai," Khushi whispers in a tortured voice. Payal's heart clenches painfully as she watches the sadness come over Khushi.
It was so clearly evident that Khushi's mind was battling against her heart and she was becoming the collateral in all this. Payal squeezes Khushi's arm comfortingly.
"Tumhara dil kya keh raha hai Khushi?" Payal asks. Khushi stills for a moment and then she slowly gets up from Payal's lap, silent tears coursing down her cheeks. She bows her head down, not knowing what to answer. Payal gently wipes Khushi's tears and pulls her into a warm hug. After a long silent moment, she finally says, "Agar dimag ne kaam karna band kiya hai, to shayad ab tumhe apne dil ki sunni chahiye, Khushi."
And listening to her sister's advice, Khushi dazedly rests her hand on her chest, feeling the dull heartbeats under her fingers... Trying to decipher what her heart was trying to tell her... what it had been telling her all along...
ENGLISH VERSION
Chapter 20 Scene 3
Khushi slumps down on the floor, gaping at the open box in front of her. Nandini gaze keeps flitting between Khushi's face and the saree. She can gather that much that it's been a huge shock and yet there's a strange familiarity in the way Khushi's staring at it. Nandini slowly reaches out to Khushi and gently shakes her shoulder.
"What happened?" she enquires. Khushi looks at Nandini wordlessly.
"This is that saree... But how did this... Who..." she stutters, her eyes clouded with confusion. Okay, so Khushi does recognise this saree from somewhere before. Khushi starts biting her lower lip in trepidation. Then she tentatively opens the sticker on the box and reads it again. This will really look good on you... those were the exact words spoken by the salesman who was showing her the saree.
So obviously it must've been bought by someone who was sitting close to her. Khushi immediately forms a mental list. Anjaliji and Mamiji were next to me but they were looking at the chickankaari sarees. No they couldn't. She knows for sure they couldn't have overheard the other salesman who was sitting far from them. Who else was there? Nanhe ji? She wonders idly. But didn't he walk in much later? When Anjaliji and Mamiji were paying the bill, Khushi remembers. Suddenly she turns to Nandini who is staring at her with raised eyebrows.
"Nandiniji, that day when we went shopping, you had sent Nanhe ji to me?" Khushi asks. Nandini nods her head. "Who else was with you?" Nandini frowns at Khushi's question.
"Aakash and Payal," she replies cautiously. Khushi heart starts racing.
"A...and?" she stutters. Nandini looks utterly lost now.
"And? And no one, Khushi. You, Anjaliji, that fat Mamiji and Arnav were inside the shop. Payal, Aakash, NK and I were outside eating ice cream. Who else went with us?" she reels off impatiently, keeps the saree separately and picks up the next bag to be unpacked. Khushi's eyes widen. "You, Anjaliji, that fat Mamiji and Arnav were inside the shop."
Khushi again looks at the saree, its black stones glinting by her bedside lamp, feeling an eerie cold shiver run all through her body as realisation sets in.
A...Arnavji? she wonders blankly.
Just then Buaji walks in the room, wearing her thick spectacles and holding a file in her hands. "Parmeswari!" she exclaims, snapping Khushi out of her trance. "once you finish here, please come and help me out. I had these papers checked by Mishraji and he said everything is in order. But I don't remember now where I need to sign them," Buaji mutters looking befuddled.
Khushi stands up and takes the file from Buaji curiously. "What papers are these?" she asks.
"Ohh, these are this house's papers. Arnav bitwa has transfered the ownership to me," Buaji replies with a happy smile. Khushi stares at her completely shocked.
"Wh..what?" she stutters. Buaji starts walking towards the dining room, Khushi immediately follows her.
"Yes, he came today morning with these documents. He told me to get these proof read by a lawyer and then sign them and return one copy to him," Buaji patiently explains and sits down. Khushi too sinks into the chair next to her, feeling utterly lost now.
"Arnavji came here today morning? When? Where was I?" she asks unable to bear her curiosity any longer.
"How do I know where were you, Parmeswari! Vimala must have called you to get her water pump fixed again or maybe Happy Singh called you to help him with a puncture," Buaji says disapprovingly, but Khushi is unfazed with her reprimands this time as she starts wrapping her mind around what she was hearing. She wordlessly starts leafing through the file. They were indeed the ownership deeds of the house. Then she slowly rests the file on the table. Arnavji is really transferring this house to Buaji.
"Arnav babua said that this house belongs to me and it should always belong to me," Buaji emotionally repeats what he had said earlier. Seeing how happy Buaji is a smile slowly creeps up on Khushi's face as well. Just then Garima walks behind them.
"Arre Garima! How come you got so late in returning home today? Was everything alright?" Buaji asks Garima. Khushi's smile fades again as she looks between her mother and Buaji. Garima nods her head.
"There was some crowd there Jeeji. But it was a good thing that Arnav bitwa took the appointments before hand," Garima replies and starts walking towards the kitchen to get started with the dinner preparations. Khushi's ears have picked up the mention of Arnav again and a frission of restlessness starts surging through her again. What is all this going on? She wonders.
"Amma, what are you talking about?" she asks Garima who looks up at Khushi.
"Arre I took your father to the phyjiotherapy doctor today," Garima explains as she starts fiddling with the utensils. "Should I prepare Alu Gobi tonight?" she asks Khushi who absent mindedly nods her head but still looks troubled.
"So where did Arnavji come into all of this?" she asks wonderingly. Garima exchanges a look with Buaji first and then looks at Khushi whose eyebrows are scrunched together in a confused frown.
"Arnav bitwa is the one who got us the doctor's appointment, Khusee," Garima replies. The creases on Khushi's forehead relax but her eyes widen at hearing Garima's words. Her mind starts working on overdrive as she absorbs each piece of information. Arnavji transferred the house to Buaji's name. He arranged for medical care for Bauji as well. And that saree... Khushi stands up from her chair suddenly feeling breathless.
"Khusee Payalia had called a while ago. She has called you to her place tomorrow. Have a talk with her will you? Khusee?" Buaji's voice trails off as she notices Khushi has already left her side. Khushi is walking slowly out of the house, her steps carrying her on in a dream like trance; out of the living room, down the stairs, across the courtyard...
"Today, all of us have come to apologize to you, and especially me"... "But for that first decision, I'm sorry Payal"... "There was never any relation between Ms. Gupta's mother and my father"... "She has a clean character and so does her daughter Khushi"... "Arnav bitwa is transferring the ownership of this house to me"... "Arnav bitwa is the one who got the doctor's appointment"...
She pauses by the wrought iron gate leading out to the earthen road by the house. She wraps her fingers around the latch, flinching slightly at the coldness of the metal but holding it tightly. Then she slowly turns around and looks at her home standing erect behind her, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.
I tried so hard to hate you, Arnavji. But, now... now I simply can't hate you... I can't... And Khushi's knees buckle, her feelings finally overwhelming her as she sinks to the ground and arches her back low to bury her face in her hands.
[Raizada Mansion, Next morning]
Aakash and Payal are in their boardroom. Payal is holding his coat in her hands for him to ease his arms inside. As Aakash wears the coat, she murmurs, "I've called Khushi here today, Aakash. I'll try talking to her about Karwachauth."
He turns around smiling at his wife. "Good. And if everything goes according to plan, I'll talk yo Bhai tomorrow evening."
"Yeah, but make sure you don't delay talking to him, because you have to come home early tomorrow evening," Payal reminds him, smoothing the lapel of Aakash's coat. Aakash suddenly pulls Payal closer to his chest.
"If the wife commands, I can cancel going altogether?" he teasingly asks and laughs as he sees Payal's eyes widen first and then her cheeks blushing a deep shade of red.
[Gupta House, somewhere in the afternoon]
Khushi walks out of her room looking pretty in her pretty pink Anarkali suit. Her long shiny hair is open and her eyes look beautifully defined with kohl, no trace of any lingering redness in them. She looks strikingly beautiful. As she walks into the living room, her gaze falls on the corridor facing the courtyard and she watches the nurse working with her father. Her face lights up with a smile.
"Oooh Khushi!" Nandini's voice distracts Khushi and she turns to look at her friend sitting on the dining table. Nandini is wearing a tee-shirt and pajamas, her hair tied back in a ponytail, her glasses lodged on her head and the newspaper open in front of her. Sitting next to her, Buaji too had her reading glasses lodged up in her head and she too has a newspaper open in front of her. Khushi blinks at seeing such similarity between the two women.
"Good morning Nandiniji!" Khushi wishes her cheerily in a bid to make Nandini forget her silent sobs from the previous night. Thankfully, Nandini smiles at her and Khushi feels relieved in her heart.
"Good morning, Khushi," Nandini says appreciatively and winks at her. Khushi immediately looks down at her dress a little consciously.
"Is it too much?" she asks worriedly. Buaji and Nandini exchange a glance and then both start laughing. Khushi narrows her eyes realising Nandini was just teasing her.
"No. it would've been too much on anyone else, but it looks beautiful on you," Nandini replies earnestly with a smile. "Where are you headed?" she asks. Khushi opens her purse making sure she had her phone and wallet inside.
"I'm going to meet Jeeji, Nandiniji. Why don't you come along with me?" Khushi says eagerly, as the idea of getting her to meet NK strikes her mind. But Nandini shakes her head.
"Sorry, Khushi. I can't. I need to go and check out my school. I'm starting my job from tomorrow," Nandini says regretfully. Khushi sighs.
"Okay fine. I'll see you later then," Khushi replies and walks out towards the courtyard after bidding her byes to Nandini and Buaji. She hugs Shashi before leaving who happily smiles as he watches his daughter go.
[Raizada Mansion, later in the evening]
NK is lying on the sofa with a beautiful red rose in his hand. He is plucking one petal after the other muttering "She loves me... She loves me not... She loves me... She loves me not..." completely oblivious to a wide eyed Mamiji, a smiling Anjali and an amused Naniji standing right behind him.
"NK Babua?" Mamiji suddenly exclaims as there were only a few petals remaining on the bud.
NK suddenly jumps up shocked and turns around to stare at the three ladies who are now looking first at him and then at the almost deflowered rose. NK looks back at the flower and then back at the three ladies with a sheepish grin. He immediately turns away from them and quietly keeps the flower on the table. He is just about to get up from the sofa when Mamiji and Anjali suddenly sit on either side of him and Mamiji holds his arm in an iron grip, effectively stopping him from moving from his place.
"So NK Babua, what's all this going on?" she asks him scrutinisingly. NK suddenly pales. He glances at Anjali and Nani, who are both trying to stifle their smiles, and then back at Mamiji.
"What's going on Maasiji? Absolutely nothing," he shrugs and replies a little too enthusiastically.
"Really? I've been watching you since morning," Mami motions two fingers to her eyes, then to NK and then back to her in a "I've got my eyes one you" sign. NK gulps. "Why are you raining flowers all over the house?" she points to the petals now scattered on the table and on the carpet too which NK had dropped. He squirms uncomfortably wondering how to get himself out of the situation when he looks across the room and exclaims, "KHUSHI JI!!!"
"Hain? Khushiji?" Mami retorts in surpise and looks around in confusion. NK squiggles out of Mamiji's grip and immediately rushes towards the entrance where Khushi is standing stock still, staring at NK's antics in amazement. Khushi then folds her hands and greets Naniji, Mamiji and Anjali who smile back at her. As soon as the greetings are exchanged, NK grabs Khushi's hand and makes her follow him to the poolside. Khushi looks at the three ladies first and then at NK in utter bewilderment.
"Nanhe ji!" she exclaims when they finally stop by the poolside and NK releases his grip on her wrist. "Are you alright?" she asks him worriedly, rubbing her wrist and looking at him warily as if he had lost his mind. And true to her suspicions, NK holds his head in his hand and starts pacing frustratingly in front of her.
"Khushiji, I'm going mad!" he mutters. "You friend has done jaadu-kona on me."
"Jadoo -tona (black magic), Nanheji," Khushi corrects him and then smiles as she understands what was going on. "So you are getting restless thinking about Nandiniji." NK stops in his tracks and stares at Khushi as if she had gone crazy.
"Khushiji who else in your friend circle have you introduced me to?" he asks her incredulously. Khushi giggles.
"Of course. by the way, I have some more friends, if you're interested to meet them..." Khushi's playful words trail off at the look of horror now flashing on NK's face.
"No! Absolutely not! How can you even suggest something like that Khushiji?"he gasps mortified. "I'm committed whole and soul to Nandiniji." Khushi looks at NK's innocent face and stifles the laughter that was threatening to burst out of her. Awww the poor boy was hit hard in love.
"Okay okay, I won't bring up anyone else," Khushi says reassuringly. "By the way it's a good thing you told me about your feelings for Nandini ji. Because now we've to plan for your future meetings with her." NK looks at her confusedly. Khushi smiles reading his facial expressions.
"Nandini ji has arrived in Delhi," She whispers conspiratorially. NK's eyes light up on hearing the news and he immediately hugs Khushi in his excitement. Across the poolside, in the hall, the three pairs of eyes grow wide as saucers at watching the public display of affection. Anjali gasps audibly. Just then they hear footsteps from behind them.
"What are you watching?" he asks. Anjali turns around to find Arnav looking at her confusedly.
"Chotey!" she exclaims and taking him by the arm she quickly flips him 180 degrees around, facing him away from NK and Khushi near the poolside.
"Di?" Arnav asks in a baffled voice raising his eyebrows. Anjali peers backwards over her shoulder and sees that NK is no longer embracing Khushi and the two are just talking animatedly now. Anjali sighs in relief. Seriously, a misunderstanding creeping up between Chotey and Khushi was the last thing she wanted right now. She again turns Arnav sharply to face the poolside.
"Okay, seriously now!" Arnav exclaims irritatedly. "What the hell is going on?" Anjali smiles charmingly at her brother.
"Nothing Chotey. Right Naniji?" she stutters to Nani, her eyes looking imploringly.
"Yes yes, absolutely nothing," Naniji replies exuberantly. Arnav narrows his eyes suspiciously.
"I have no clue what's happening in this house!" Mami exclaims throwing her hands exasperatedly in the air and walks towards her room. Arnav stares at her huffing and puffing in confusion. What happened to her? He wonders. Shaking his head and muttering something about the craziness going in the house, he heads off straight outside the main door. Anjali sighs again and sits down on the sofa.
Just then NK and Khushi are seen walking towards them, smiling and still talking between themselves. Anjali and Nani watch them with suspicious eyes. Watching the expressions on Anjali and Naniji's face, the smiles on Khushi and NK's face slowly fades. Khushi mumbles about going to meet Payal and NK mumbles something about going out and they both disperse in separate directions.
"Anjali bitiya, I think there is something fishy going on," Naniji mutters watching Khushi walk up the stairs.
"Naniji, I couldn't agree less," Anjali replies watching NK sneak out of the main door.
[Payal's room]
Payal is putting her sarees inside her cupboard when Khushi walks in and hugs her from behind.
"Arre when did you come Khushi?" Payal asks looking taken aback at this sudden appearance.
"Just a while ago, jeeji. I was talking to Nanhe ji," Khushi replies and sits on Payal's bed patiently waiting for her to keep her sarees inside. Finally, Payal turns around with a smile.
"So Khushi, how is everyone at home?" she says as she sits on the bed next to Khushi. Khushi's face becomes deadpan for a moment before she bows her head and starts fiddling running her fingers idly on the bedsheet. The mention of her family members suddenly resurfaces the events of the previous night.
"Everyone's fine, Jeeji. Bauji's physiotherapy has started. I saw the nurse working with him before I started for here," Khushi replies not meeting Payal's eyes, the usual chirpiness missing from her voice. Payal detects something being amiss. She caresses Khushi's cheek.
"What's wrong, Khushi?" she asks gently. Khushi sighs remembering the emotional turmoil she had gone through the previous night.
Suddenly Khushi lies down resting her head on Payal's lap. Payal again looks taken aback at this, but slowly rests her hand on Khushi's head and caresses it gently. "Khushi?" she ventures worriedly. "what happened to you?"
"Why is he doing all this, jeeji?" Khushi suddenly starts off without preamble. Payal looks slightly confused but doesn't interrupt her. "Why is he doing so much for Bauji and Amma and Buaji? Didn't he leave me and go away? So why did he come back now? What does all this mean Jeeji? My mind has stopped working altogether about this now," Khushi whispers in a tortured voice. Payal's heart clenches painfully as she watches the sadness come over Khushi.
It was so clearly evident that Khushi's mind was battling against her heart and she was becoming the collateral in all this. Payal squeezes Khushi's arm comfortingly.
"What does your heart have to say, Khushi?" Payal asks. Khushi stills for a moment and then she slowly gets up from Payal's lap, silent tears coursing down her cheeks. She bows her head down, not knowing what to answer. Payal gently wipes Khushi's tears and pulls her into a warm hug. After a long silent moment, she finally says, "If your mind has stopped working, then maybe it is time to listen to what your heart has to say, Khushi."
And listening to her sister's advice, Khushi dazedly rests her hand on her chest, feeling the dull heartbeats under her fingers... Trying to decipher what her heart was trying to tell her... what it had been telling her all along...
Writer's note: Yes yes, Khushi, listen to what your heart is saying to you...
So people how is it building up eh? I know you guys are desperate for some Arshi meeting now *high time, I hear someone yell in the background* hahahaa well people it is the ME coming up next and I can assure of Arshi meeting.
FEEDBACK would be most welcome 😊
Cheers!
PS- If you are interested to see the ideas I've given to the PH http://forum32.com/discussion/361/open-letter-to-viewers-of-ipkknd go to page 3 of this thread
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
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