It had been two days, now. And nothing seemed to be working. Khushi sighed as she looked at her Husband across the Breakfast table. He was buttering his toast, frowning as he murmured instructions to his subordinates on that dratted Bluetooth. She sighed again as she served breakfast- sans nuts, she thought with a sniff- to Sheetal. She sighed again, turning to Naniji. Why didn't he understand? She needed to make sure! It was not that she didn't trust him... it was that she needed to know... to make her peace with his Past...
"Khushiji?" her head jerked up as she heard Di calling her name, and managed to plaster that ever-present sunny smile on her face at the last moment before she turned to her nanad.
"Ji, Di?"
She could see that her smile had not fooled her shrewd nanad. She smiled a bit more, and Anjali Di raised her eyebrows at her. The familiar expression of, Oh really? Coming through magnificently, and Khushi lowered her eyes in defeat. She looked up again and bit her lower lip, shaking her head imperceptibly, her eyes pleading with Di to not dig any further, and a silent agreement passed between the two sisters.
Anjali Raizada turned to her family and smiled her usual saccharine sweet smile. "How about we all go out for some fun today? What say you, Sheetal? Chotey Nawab?"
Khushi offered her a small smile as Sheetal ji and Aarav agreed to go out with Anjali Di and the rest of the family, and when Naniji looked at Khushi expectantly, Khushi shook her head and quietly told them that she didn't really feel well enough to go out. Could she just rest at home? She felt his eyes on her and looked at him, only to find him getting up and walking away to their bedroom, already talking fast on the Bluetooth. She sighed again. She would have to do something, fast. She just could not bear this silent treatment from him.
And as Maamiji strutted past her, no doubt to get ready for the outing, humming an old song under her breath, her eyes lit up. She would make it up to him. She would, she grinned. Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada style.
***
Arnav Singh Raizada looked up at the door to their bedroom for what felt like the hundredth time in the past half hour, his eyes worried, his fists clenched as he waited for his wife to come in. She had said she was not well. That was the reason he had cancelled going to work, telling Aman that he would work from home instead. He looked down at his laptop, the blank spreadsheet on the screen that should have been filled minutes ago mocking him, as he strained his ears for any sound of her. Don't get him wrong, he was still hurt... still angry with her for doubting his words. But he couldn't just let her be unwell, now could he? She was his wife, for Heaven's sake. And she had sounded a bit unwell too. Khushi never sounded that dull, even when she was worried.
And so he waited. For his paagal wife to head back to their bedroom, so he could order her to stay in bed and rest. Then he could have some peace of mind himself. "Paagal." He murmured shaking his head.
***
Khushi bit her lip as she closed the doors behind the entire family. She loved them, really she did. But sometimes having such a large and noisy family meant practically no alone time with her Husband... and right now, she needed that... desperately. She looked at the wall clock and smiled. It had been half an hour since he had gone to the bedroom. It was time for her impatient husband to come looking for her. He couldn't hide that worried look from her- however much he wanted to. And she loved him for it. If only he understood her reasons for doing what she did... she sighed. No, she shook her head as she hurried to Di's room, this is not the time to think about all that Khushi. You need to get to work.
***
Arnav huffed impatiently and got up. This was ridiculous! Where the hell was that girl? Couldn't she take care of herself? Did she need to always work like that? The idiot must be making jalebis to munch on for all he knew! He shook his head, making his way out the door and down the stairs. He was going to make her get some rest. Even if he had to haul her over his shoulder and drag her back to their room to do that!
He descended down the stairs and looked around the silent Living Room. Where was she now? And then, he heard it. The distinct sounds of... horse hooves? Really? And before he could do anything other than raise his eyebrows and turn around she was in front of him, singing along the ridiculous... and old song as it filtered loudly through the House.
Haule haule sajna dheere dheere baalmaa
Hm hm hm, he he he hey!
His filmy wife was back in her element. He rolled his eyes and made to walk back to the room when he was forcefully pulled back into her.
Jara Haule Haule chalo more Saajna,
Hum Bhi peeche hai tumharey!
Jara Haule Haule chalo more Saajna,
Hum Bhi peeche hai tumharey!
Kaisi bheegi bheegi, rut hai suhaani,
Kaise pyaare nazaare!
He watched her, his expressions carefully impassive, as she gestured him to walk slowly and told him that she was behind him before rolling her large Hazel eyes and indicated what a pleasant day it was. He rolled his eyes too- skeptically, shrugging out of her hold and turned away. She really was ridiculous.
Jara Haule Haule chalo more Saajna,
Hum Bhi peeche hai tumharey!
He was pulled back yet again and he huffed impatiently as he watched her yellow clad form twirl around him. Wait. That was not her saree. He couldn't help it, as his eyes roved down her petite form taking in the sunny yellow Kundan saree she was draped in. The net pallu showed her exquisitely designed blouse, a shade darker to the saree, with flowers done in kundan work too. Her creamy flat stomach peeked at him as she twirled around him again, smiling that innocent smile of hers making him clench his fists, unknowing of the effect she was having on him, her hair in a loose side pony tail covering her left shoulder with a single jasmine flower tucked behind her ear. She fluttered her eyelashes at him, coming closer and pouting as she held his hands- and the only thing that went through his mind was- She looked like Spring.
He shook his head again. He was supposed to be angry at her. Damn his Male instincts! He slid her hands off of his and turned away again- intending to go out to the poolside and make his way up to their bedroom from there, when he felt her press up against him and throw her arms around his neck, pulling him back into herself.
Pad gayi janab mai to aapke gale!
Ab toh nibhaaye bagair na chale!
Pad gayi janab mai to aapke gale!
Ab toh nibhaaye bagair na chale!
She pouted again, the pout turning into a shy smile instantly as she came in front of him her arms still around his neck, her eyes pleading with him, begging him to forgive her, and he almost did. Almost. But he caught himself at the last moment. No! What was he doing? He wasn't giving in that easily. She had hurt him! And so, stubborn as he was, Arnav Singh Raizada rolled his eyes again, shaking off her hands... again and again and again as she put them back around him, just as stubbornly. He gently pushed her away from him and raised an eyebrow at her... doing his best sardonic Not-interested impression. Before he turned away again and made it to the third step of the stairs before he felt her catch up to him.
Pyaar ke safar me, hote hi rahenge,
Jhagde hazaro Sanam!
Pyaar ke deewane chalte hi rahenge,
Phir bhi milaake kadam sajna!
Hotey hi rahenge neechi nazar ke
Meethe meethe ishaare!
She lowered those big eyes of hers, and he could have sworn that he saw a tear clinging there, and he felt his resolve weakening. And just as he felt the last of his anger at her melting away, he saw her square her shoulders and look up at him with that dazzling smile of hers firmly in place. It was clear. She was not going to give up without him forgiving her.
He walked up the stairs, silently, holding the smile that was itching to break out on his face in, and she danced alongside him all the way back. She really was the Sanka Devi her Buaji had named her.
Jara Haule Haule chalo more Saajna ,
Hum Bhi peeche hai tumharey!
He was pushed down on to his Recliner and she had made herself comfortable on his lap as soon as they'd entered their room. Her hands snaking back around his neck as she gently touched her nose to his, her lips pouting again.
Dekh li huzoor maine apki wafaa!
Baaton hi baton me ho gaye khafaa!
Dil ko toh dilbar le hi chuke ho!
Dil ka karaar na lo!
She caressed his cheek, her nose rubbing against his as he looked into her eyes, the sincere apology in them not lost on him as those hazel depths beseeched him to look at the matter from her point of view too.
Muzhe mera pyaar do, duniya sawaar do,
Jeene ki baat karo sajna!
Tum jo nahi to,
Kaise lagegi jeevan naiyya kinaare?
She raised her eyebrows at him, tipping her chin up slightly as if really asking him that question. How would she live without him? And his heart melted. The smile he had been holding in finally breaking out. His arms sliding around her bare waist anchoring her to her position on his lap. And she smiled. Whispering the last words of the song again as she touched her forehead gently to his, her nose nudging his lightly, as her smile grew.
Jara Haule Haule chalo more Saajna,
Hum Bhi peeche hai tumharey!
He shook his head at her strange and endearing antics and sighed.
"Oh Khushi..."
She tightened her arms around his neck, her nose reddening as she urgently whispered. "I'm sorry, Arnavji. I really am. I never meant to hurt you. I wasn't doubting your words... I just wanted to make sure... I wanted to... I wanted to be ready Arnavji. I couldn't not worry... I..." She sighed again, defeated.
And he smiled, understanding her burning need to know, the irrational yet somehow rational jealousy she must be feeling... the worry that must have been gnawing at her since that thought had occurred to her. "You needed to be ready to accept him... if he was indeed my son? You wanted to prepare yourself to stand by me accepting everything in past- like you promised me, hai na Khushi?"
She looked up again, her eyes shining with tears as she nodded, and then buried her face into his neck, holding on as if for dear life. And his arms tightened around her, as she apologized again. "I am Sorry, Arnavji. I promise I won't ever think like that again. I was wrong to go behind you back... but I was afraid that I would hurt you... aur dekhiye, Sab kuch gadbad ho gaya!"
He smiled again. "I love you, Khushi." He murmured, and she pulled back, the uncertain smile on her face growing into the beautiful dazzling one he loved. "Now, what were you saying, Love?" he asked her, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and she raised her eyebrows confused.
"Something about, muzhe mera pyaar do, Duniya Sawaar do...", He chuckled as understanding dawned on her, and she blushed, as he pulled her to himself before she could try and escape his hold. "Chaliye Mrs. Raizada, aapko aapka pyaar dete hai!" he whispered to his blushing wife and kissed her red as a tomato nose, grinning.
All was well. His ridiculously adorable wife loved him, and would never leave him. They would face each and every storm together when it came. And he knew they would make it through. But right now, he smiled as he picked her up into his arms and walked to their bed, humming the old and catchy tune of Haule Haule saajna, it was time to just celebrate their being together.
Hope you liked it Darlings! And Especially you B! Now, for Threaded in Music, I will be accepting Song suggestions as long as I feel I can write something suitable on it. You can write the song you want in your comments here or PM me with it! Love you all Darlings! And Do let me know how it was!
Index
Haule Haule Saajna- Pg 1
Indias Got Talent 11
Cricket
Anupamaa
294