SS: Keeping Khushi 3: Part 31 on Thread 4 - Page 52

Part 29

Vivek came home to fix railings for his Di. As he walked into RM with Arnav, his Di's warm arms enveloped him and hugged him. Arnav and the Raizadas watched, smiling, as he touched her feet, and got a kiss on his forehead as a reward.

Behind her stood Nani, Anjali, and Mami to welcome him. He blushed, unused to such attention.

He and Arnav discussed Khushi's daily schedule and drew a list of the places she frequented daily. They drafted a plan for the railings and the heights at which they had to be placed so that Khushi could stand up and walk without help.

Khushi paled. RM was a beautiful house with expensive flooring and fittings. Now it would look ugly with the railings.

Nani took one look at her, and told Arnav and Vivek, "This is a wonderful idea! We should have done this before. My knees give me too much trouble on some days, Chotey!"

Anjali and Mami looked at Nani in wonder.

Arnav stared at her. Her knees? Nani loved to dance. She had been dancing with the children at the sangeet, continuing to rock the floor even after the youngsters had fallen by the wayside. Her knees giving her trouble? Which knee would dare to give her trouble?

Anjali caught on. "Haan, Chotey! Why didn't you do this before? Now I will have no difficulty getting up after pooja.", she smiled happily.

Mami said, "Arnav Bitwaa, your Mami ijj getting oldwaa. Her bones are making sounds. This ijj good. This ijj good." She poured her tea into the saucer, and sipped from it.

Arnav looked at Khushi's face, and smiled at his family.

Arnav had to go to the office. Vivek would take Khushi to Omkar with him later, after the Raizada women had enquired after all 20 children and Baba's well-being.

He slipped the coat on and grabbed his bag. He walked down the steps, telling his family that he was leaving for his office. They nodded, smiling.

Khushi came with him to the door. She opened the door for him, and stood waiting for her kiss. He kissed her cheek, breathing in her scent.

"Bye!", he said in his husky voice that made her want to do naughty things to him.

"Bye!", she murmured.

He hesitated.

This was strange for them. Normally, both of them would leave RM in the morning. He would drop Khushi off at Omkar, and then go to his office. He and Akash would either return to Omkar for lunch or she would send dabbas for them if they were too busy to come home. He would return to Omkar in the evening, and stay there, working, till her music lessons ended. Then they would return to RM together.

"Call me once you reach Omkar.", he said.

"Ji."

"OK. I... I need to go.", he said.

She nodded.

He crossed the doorway, and then looked back.

(Sidhu285, thanx!)

She was standing there, looking at him.

"Khushi!", he called.

She walked the few steps to him, rushing into his waiting arms.

"I will come to Omkar for lunch.", he murmured into her hair.

Nani decided to hold a satsang at home on Sunday. Akash and NK helped HP decorate the house with flowers. Arnav returned from a meeting to find Mami and Nani decorating the mandir. Di and Khushi were not to be seen. He looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of his wife.

"Arnav Bitwaa, your beautiphool patni is in the kitchen making jalebi. Don't disturb her.", said eagle-eyed Mami.

Arnav blushed.

"It is just question of a jalebi

Ek jalebi ka sawaal hai
Duniya badal de saari
Achi jalebi ka yahi kamaal hai

Karle karle tu ek sawaal

Jalebi ka sawaal he!", Mami sang.

Arnav stared at her.

"Oo kaa he Bitwaa, when our bahuriyaa is such a good singer, how can her Mami be phar (far) behind?"

Nani smiled. "Chotey, she is preparing sweets for the pooja. Anjali Bitiyya is with her."

Arnav went to the kitchen.

Khushi was swirling a cloth bag over the heated oil, making jalebis. A mountain of jalebis sat on a big platter. As he watched, Anjali took a vessel of rice and went out of the kitchen through another door, too busy to see him.

Arnav came to stand behind Khushi. She was in a green anarkali, the shawl tied across her chest and around her waist, her hair in a bun.

As he watched, a drop of sweat made its way down her neck. His hand rose by itself, and he gently rubbed away that drop. She jerked, and turned around, her eyes wide.

"Arnavji, aap!", she gasped.

Arnav smiled. He bent his head to kiss her neck.

She pulled back. "Arnavji, I am all sweaty and hot. You... Your clothes will get dirty... Arnavji!"

He pulled her into his arms and hugged her close, his face buried against her neck. He kissed her neck and gently licked the salty trail. She trembled.

Over his shoulder, she saw Di walking towards the kitchen.

"Di!", she warned him in a whisper.

When Anjali came into the kitchen, Khushi was taking slightly burnt jalebis out of the angry oil and Arnav was standing at the other end of the kitchen, near the pot of water.

She hid a smile, and said, "Chotey, why don't you go to your room? I will send HP with water for you."

"Err... No, no, Di. I will take it by myself."

"Chotey!"

"No, Di. HP is busy. I will take it by myself."

"Oh! HP is busy. So why don't I send it through Khushiji?", asked Anjali with a smirk.

"Err... I will wait in my room."

Part 30: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3259956/ss-keeping-khushi-3-part-31-on-thread-4