SS: Keeping Khushi 3: Part 31 on Thread 4 - Page 46

Part 28

"Arnavji! What...?", she looked at him and at the documents in her hands. "What have you done...Why...?"

"Given you a bank account in your new name. A few credit cards. Anand Sadan. And two other houses in Delhi. That's all."

"Why?", her voice was just a thread.

"For security. Your security."

Khushi stared at him.

"When my business started doing well, I did the same for Nani, Di, Mami, and Akash. I have set aside money for NK. I will give it to him when he gets married."

"Arnavji! But...", she tried to protest.

"Khushi...", he sighed. "My mother was totally dependent on my father. He...he was a bad businessman and a spendthrift. He ran through all the money that her father had given her in just 2 years of marriage. Then he began selling everything she owned. By the time he killed her, she had nothing left...Nothing..."

Khushi flinched at the pain in his eyes, the devastation...

"After the accident, when I had to take over the business... I... I... It was such a shock, Khushi. There was nothing left, Khushi... Nothing at all. Even the house we lived in, our ancestral home had been pledged by him. We owed money to many..." He shook his head. "I will never forget those days..."

Khushi swallowed.

"Nani sold the house that had been in her family for centuries, many plots of land that she owned in and around Lucknow, and the house that Nana had built for her. That is how we managed to pay the debt." He looked at her.

"When it was time for me to start my business, Mami gave me her jewellery. She owned a large plot in Lucknow. She sold it for me." He shook his head, his eyes moist. "Khushi, but for my family, I...I would have been nothing, reached no where..."

"Khushi...", he cupped her face in his loving hands. "Khushi, whatever happens in the future, I don't want you to worry about money or a roof over your head."

Khushi could understand his pain. She could not refuse him in the face of such agony. She blinked away her tears and nodded.

"I transfer money every month to the accounts of Nani, Di, Mami, & Akash. I wanted to do the same for you. That's why I got you a bank account."

"I already have one.", she protested mildly.

"But not in your new name...", he murmured. "Khushi. Arnav. Singh. Raizada." He punctuated her name with kisses, stopping only when they were both panting, eager for the other. Khushi's fingers were clutching the hair at his nape, pulling him closer. He dropped a gentle but eager kiss on her forehead, and lifted her in his arms to carry her to their bed. The documents and cards lay forgotten on the floor.

Khushi sang in Raag Mand,

Bedardi Saiyya...

More Saiyya...

All the Raizadas were in the front row, listening to her. The hall was crowded, thousand of music lovers having braved the chill wind and cold rain to enjoy her music. Men and women shook their heads in appreciation, tapped their fingers and feet, murmured 'wah wah!', but all she could see was a pair of warm, honey eyes looking at her as though he wanted to swallow her whole...

Bedardi More Saiyya...

Bedardi Ban Gaye...More Saiyya...

He smiled at the goddess in a pink silk sari with a heavy border, her sweet voice complaining about her lover's cruelty towards her, her pain in his absence, her desire for him...

The sindoor in her maang, her mangalsutra... His possessive eyes lingered on the blush on her cheeks.

Koi Jaao, Manaao Re...

More Saiyya...

Ban Gaye Bedardi, More Saiyya...

His eyes promised her that he would deal with all her complaints, whether real or imaginary, once they reached home and got to their room.

Mami looked around, smiling at the huge crowd that had come to hear her bahuriyya sing. How she would boast about this to Mrs. Mehra and Mrs. Patel. They were already jealous of her ability to speak English like Englishmen! And her beautiphool looks. Now they could burn in jealousy over the popularity of the Raizada bahuriyya as a singer! She grinned in glee.

The lady sitting near her said, "Wah! What a voice! What a talent!"

"Of course, she is talented. She is hamre Arnav Bitwaa's wife. Our bahuriyya. How can she not be talented?"

"Really?", the lady was astonished.

"Aur nahin to kaa?", exclaimed Mamiji. "She cooks well too. Her kheer! Her halwa poori!"

The lady stared at her.

"And the way she sings Munni Badnam and Second-hand Jawani! You should hear her, hello hi bye bye! Even Malaika Arora and Deepika Padukone will bow down before her!"

Part 29: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3259956/ss-keeping-khushi-3-part-31-on-thread-4