ARHI SS: The Learning Curve - THREAD 3 (CHP 15-20) - Page 79

[Not proof-read]

Khushi straightened her short kurti as she waited for someone to open the door. She had had to stay back after school to sort out the issue with Anaya's bullying; the three girls parents had come and Mrs D'souza had summoned her to attend the meeting as well. She had bid a goodbye to anaya, promising her that she will be along in some time. So here she was an hour or so later standing in front of the mansion door, wondering for the umpteenth time, what exactly did Mr Raizada want to talk about?

"Arre Khushi didi, please come in" a harrowed HP spoke as a bright smile touched his lips, Khushi walked in thanking HP "Who is it?" came a shrill voice from the living room to which HP quickly ran inside as if he was being chased by hellfire. Khushi walked inside gingerly to come face to face with an elegantly dressed older woman sitting on the couch reading a magazine with a bored expression.

"This is Khushi didi, anaya baby's teacher" HP said in a soft voice to which the woman gave khushi a once over before probably deciding that she wasn't important enough to miss out on whatever filmy gossip she was engrossed over. Khushi gave a warm smile to the woman who raised her eyebrow before speaking in a very cultured but still shrill voice "So, you are the teacher who is also counseling anaya?"

Khushi nodded and sat on the opposite couch as maggie rushed in with a broad smile "Khushi! So nice to see you again dear...i mean I know it's just been a day...but somehow I look forward to our silly talks" she said laughing as khushi joined in and gave her a warm hug "Hmm...I hope you also do your job miss khushi or do you come here only to chat and make jolly with the help?" she heard the older woman speak again, her gaze fixed on the magazine.

"Oh..uh, sorry...I did not realize you are here maam" maggie said getting flustered as khushi looked on with shock at someone calling maggie help! She was as much a part of this family as anaya and arnav were "Khushi, this is anaya's dadi-bua, Anjali devi" maggie said as her cheeks warmed with the insult and obvious dislike shown by the lady at her and khushi's friendliness "Uh, why don't I let anaya know you are here? She's just finishing her homework and will be down in a jiffy" maggie said as khushi nodded and went to sit down.

"Uh maggie, is Arnav...I mean is Mr Raizada home yet? I actually came here to speak to him" she said as her reason for coming here suddenly hit her, maggie smiled at her and was just about to reply when Anjali devi interrupted her "Arnav is not here yet..And why may I ask you would want to speak to him? I mean, what is so important that it can't be spoken on the phone?" she asked khushi, who by now was getting really annoyed at the woman's high-handed behavior.

"I don't know, he probably wants to talk about anaya. She has had a pretty rough time." khushi said a bit tartly to which anjali deviji looked up and keenly observed the slight girl, a very pretty slight girl with a whole lot of oomph in her. She shut her magazine and turned towards maggie "Maggie, do get some tea and refreshments for me and uh..Khushi here" she said dismissing the poor woman to which khushi bristled further.

"Khushi, why don't you sit down...I too need to speak with you on something very important" she said in a very blank tone. Khushi hesitated for a few minutes before finally sitting down, she looked up to find anjali devi staring at her "So Khushi..I know that you have been counseling anaya since some time and I'm sure you must be good at what you do...but whatever you may have concluded, the only reason why that child is acting so irrationally is because she needs a mother...and that's all there is to it. Without a mother's guidance, she will turn worse, she will not grow the right way!"

Khushi bristled with annoyance at the woman's bashful and unnecessary judgment on anaya's behavior, she took a deep breath before answering her "Anjali deviji, I know for a fact that the reason you are stating is not the reason why anaya went through such a drastic behavioral change...in fact i just came to know the real reason behind it and that's why I'm here to speak to Ar..Mr Raizada..you may think that anaya needs a mother for guidance, but maggie has done an amazing job in bringing her up the right way...and arnav is a very dedicated and loving father, she hardly needs a mother to as you said it 'Grow the right way!'" khushi said in a controlled and calm voice.

Anjali devi looked shocked at the way khushi spoke back to her; she narrowed her eyes at her and looked at her in a very condescending way "So you think that having that nanny and an always busy father is good for anaya? You mean to say that you know my grand-daughter better than me? Oh I don't care for any odd conclusions you have come up with...all I know is that I am right and I will start searching for a wife for arnav as soon as possible...in fact since you seem to know anaya so well, you can help me with it!" she said as khushi's mouth dropped down in shock.

"What? How can I help you with finding a wife for Mr Raizada?" khushi asked, her brain going in a freeze mode while her heart started beating at the possibility of the woman actually succeeding in getting arnav married just to prove her stupid point! She was brought out of her reverie as anjali devi's shrill voice cut through "off course you can..Since you seem to know anaya so well!" she heard her saying to which khushi tried to respond but no words seem to come out of her mouth, instead her head seemed to move in a trance, which anjai devi took as a confirmation.

"Good, I'm glad you agree...now where were we? Oh yes...I know this perfect girl for Arnav..she comes from the Royal family of ranthambore and is highly qualified in economics...yes, She will be prefect...also there is this other girl that I know, her father owns the biggest steel company in India..she is an ace horse-rider and speaks 10 languages...yes...Oh this is so good!" anjali devi said as she went on to describe another girl from some other filthy rich family who probably knew how to climb mount Everest in an hour, when a deep voice interrupted their one-sided conversation.

Copyright 2012 RTLicious

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PS: Check out Dadi-bua's character on Pg 135!