SS: Keeping Khushi: Th5: Part 51 Pg 130 - Page 24

Awesome updates, read the last 3 in 1 go- amazing,even introduced a girl for NK!!

Pls update... Waiting for next chapter...

That was totally amazing... Wedding coming up.. I was truly confused when u mentioned Aarti Mishra.. So she is for NK.. Yayyy!! 3 weddings back to back..🥳

waiting for the update dear

wah wah...nand kishor soon to get his nand kishori 😳

Wow ! Who is Kamala Mishra ?

sweet! love it!

and now a match for NK... how will they meet...? cant wait!

Part 45

It was shopping time.

Mami, with Payal, Amma, Buaji, Di, & Nani in tow, were hitting the shops to get clothes. Khushi, NK, & Akash were supposed to meet with the decorators to fix the theme of the stage and the entire wedding venue, but Akash had to leave at the last minute for the office.

"Koi baat nahin.", said NK. "You fix the deal, we will fix the decorations!"

Singing

Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu

Chin Chin Chu, Baba, Chin Chin Chu

Raat Chaandni Mein aur Tu

Hello Mister, How do you do?

Ha... Ha... Ha... Ha..., he tripped down the steps to accompany Khushi.

Aarti looked at her mother who was sleeping soundly. The pills had worked. Kamla Mishra needed a long sleep, time to heal. Twenty three years of mental torture by her husband had taken its toll.

She pulled a low table closer to the bed, and switched on her laptop. Her father had established a chain of auto showrooms, car rental outlets, and car repair workshops across Delhi and its outskirts. She quickly checked all the transactions that had taken place that day, sending mails to concerned managers, asking necessary questions, giving the needed answers.

One thing she did not need to worry about was the business. Her father had put a spanner into her hand as soon as she had been old enough to hold it. There was little she did not know about vehicles...but much she did not know about living.

"Shall we have a South East Asian theme, Bhabi?"

Khushi smiled at NK.

"What about Hawaiian? We can wear muumuus and do the hula dance and welcome the guests with a lei around their necks."

"Imagine Baba in a shirt with a flower pattern!", said Khushi.

"Oh! A royal theme? Akash in a turban and red sherwani with a sword!"

"Let's get him a big mush too!", suggested Khushi, laughing.

"And contact lens. He will look more like a king than a real one."

Aarti looked out through the window of her mother's room. The long driveway, secluding the house from the road. The huge gate. The fortress-like mansion...

A prison that Mohan Mishra had built to keep his wife and two daughters in. Shikha! Shikha, her younger sister! She had escaped early.

It started raining. Aarti turned to look at her mother. She would sleep for a few more hours. And Gopi Kakka was at home to keep a watch on Amma.

She needed a ride in the rain. Badly.

Aarti got into her worn raincoat & pulled its water repellent , shapeless bottom over her trousers. She pulled the hood tight around her face, leaving only her eyes to see the world. Taking her Pulsar, she raced away from the house, towards the nearest 24-hour emergency assistance outlet of her company.

Nitin had received a call for assistance. As he was about to leave with his kit, Aarti took it from him, and held her hand out for the slip containing the details of the call, the make & model of the vehicle, the location, & the complaint. Nitin handed it over gratefully, & Aarti rode towards the site of the SOS call.

A white SUV was parked on the side of the road. Aarti pulled the hood down to hide as much of her face as she could. She parked the Pulsar, & walked carefully towards the car across a road glistening after a good rain.

NK jumped out of the car. "That must be the mechanic, Khushi Bhabi!", he exclaimed in relief.

Aarti looked at the well-built, handsome, young man as he explained what was wrong with the car, his face looking perplexed at having the car die on him.

Soon Aarti was deep in the insides of the car, the open bonnet shielding her from the eyes of the people within the car. The only problem was the man who had greeted her. He was welded to her side, watching her deft hands as she worked.

"Nannav must be so upset.", he muttered, looking at his watch. "I phoned him and Akash, but..."

Aarti stole a look at his face.

"Khushi Bhabi and I were at the decorators. We got so caught up in selecting the right theme that we didn't notice that it was getting dark. And then the rain!" He left her to knock on the window.

"Khushi Bhabi, you are OK, aren't you?"

"I am fine, NK Bhai.", a sweet voice replied. "I hope they don't get worried at home. I forgot to take my phone, and Arnavji...!"

"I called Nannav & Akash, and told them..."

Before he could say a word further, a car came screeching to a halt a couple of metres away, and as Aarti watched, the doors opened, and two men leaped out. One was tall, with sharp features and a pair of specs. The other man was shorter, and had a stern face and cold eyes.

"Nannav, Akash!", the man beside her exclaimed happily.

Aarti lowered her face to hide it. She felt the two men glancing at her before marching to the car. The shorter man pulled open the door.

"Khushi!"

Aarti lifted her head, unconsciously. The heart-felt feeling in that word did something to her heart.

She watched as the man lifted the lady in the car to stand beside him on the road. Her hands were on his arms, and she was held close in his hold.

"Khushi, tum theek ho?" His face was bent towards hers, his body held protectively around hers.

Aarti stood mesmerised at the sight of the lady. She was beautiful, like a goddess. Long hair, braided, with flowers in them. A mangalsutra around her neck. A bindi. Sindoor. Long-sleeved red blouse. Red silk saree. Two rings on her fingers. But more beautiful than her saree was her smile.

"I am perfectly fine, Arnavji." Her voice was sweet, very melodious, like something out of a long-lost dream.

Aarti felt the muscles in her throat clench at the worry in the husband's eyes and the love in the lady's eyes. This was how a marriage should be. Not like her parents' marriage, which had been more a punishment than a marriage.

She looked on as the husband named Arnavji turned to look at the man who had called the repair centre.

"NK, you had no trouble getting a mechanic?"

"No, Nannav. I called Mishra's. Their number is posted on every board throughout Delhi."

Arnavji nodded.

The tall man bent over the lady, and said, "Khushi Bhabi, why don't you go home with Bhai in the Benz? I will wait with NK Bhai."

"No, Akash Bhai.", the lady said, a frown creasing her smooth, creamy forehead. "Your wedding is to take place in a week. How will I look Payalji in the face if you catch cold and sneeze throughout the wedding?"

Akash smiled, but before he could protest, Arnavji said, "Akash, we will wait in the Benz till this car is repaired. We will go home together."

Akash & NK nodded. Apparently their Bhai's word was law.

Arnavji led his wife across the road, and Aarti watched him settle his wife in her seat with utmost care.

Akash asked NK, seriously, "NK Bhai, did you make Khushi Bhabi stand for long at the decorators?"

"No, Akash. I forced her to sit down and look at the albums. We picked on a royal theme, all red and gold. Is that OK with you?"

"Khushi Bhabi liked it?"

"She loved it!"

"Then it is OK.", Akash smiled.

"She said you would look like a king if we could get you a big mush."

Akash smiled.

"You can sit on the throne and twirl your big mush, Akash! That will impress Payal Bhabi no end!"

Akash laughed.

"I will give you a red rose. You can smell it, and look like a Jaaneman."

"A what?"

"A Jaaneman. A King! Like Akbar."

"Jahaanpanah! NK Bhai, your Hindi will kill me one day.", Akash protested.

"Haan. But you will die laughing, Akash. That is a nice way to die, isn't it?"

Akash shook his head in loving exasperation.

"Were they worried at home?", NK asked.

"Di was praying for your well-being, and Dadi and Mama were watching the door. Mama tried Bhabi's phone, but it rang at home. She tried your phone many times, but it was busy..."

"I called Nannav, you, and the workshop."

Akash nodded. "Let me ring home."

Aarti was at the fag end of her work. As she wiped her hands on a rag, she heard Akash speak on the phone. Apparently he was answering the questions of many people over the phone.

"Haan, Khushi Bhabi is OK. NK Bhai is alright. There was some problem with the car."

"Haan. It is being repaired now, Maate."

"No, Khushi Bhabi's legs are not hurting. Bhai is with her. Yes. Yes, Dadi. There is nothing to worry if he is with her."

"Yes, Di. Bhai is with Bhabi. No, it is not raining here now."

"Yes, Dadi. We will all come home together. Yes, I will tell her not to worry about making dinner. Yes, I will tell her that you, Di, & Maate have made it." Akash ended the call.

Aarti signalled NK to start the car. NK tried, and it worked. He jumped out smiling, and walked towards her, hand outstretched.

"Thank you!"

Aarti looked at his smiling face. Akash was looking at them from a distance. Arnavji was walking towards them. There was no escape.

She quickly placed her hand in his, but pulled it back in shock. She looked into NK's wide eyes, her own naked and scared.

She turned and walked away to her bike. She hooked the kit to its customary peg, threw her leg over the seat, pushed the switch, started the vehicle, and rode away.

NK stood looking after her, his hand still held away from his body, palm up. His mouth was open.

Such beautiful eyes! On a man?

And the tingle in his hand, running up his arm? He was attracted to... he was feeling Kuch Kuch Hota He for a MAN...?

Part 46: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3297671/ss-keeping-khushi-th5-part-51-pg-130?pn=58