Vignettes -12. From ... , with love - Page 37

Hello, all...

I was waiting for atleast one of you to ask about NK...and it took you guys 6 parts and 3 weeks to ask about him! The explanation is coming in this part...

I'm really glad that this Vignette speaks to you...and keeps our Raizadas very much alive and in character...and I'm so happy to share them with you!

Once again, I want to thank all those who took the time to leave all those 'long' wonderful comments! They made my day!

Here's part 8 - Enjoy!

And as always, please leave comments...

Anjali looked up to see her brother coming down the stairs, smiling softly as he listened to something over his phone. Taking a second to look at him, she turned to her Nani and giggled, "Khushiji hogi phone par. Chotte ki aiai muskuraahat toh sirf apni biwi ke liye reserved hain naah, Nani!"

Arnav finished the call and paused on the mid-landing for a second, smiling gently at the phone still clutched in his hand. "Paagal...", he thought as he replayed her words in his head, "Aa rahe hain, Arnavji...bus thodi der aur intezaar keejiye. Hum aap hi ke paas toh aa rahe hain..."

"Khushi and her filmy dialogues", he thought, even as he realised how much he loved hearing them. Stuffing the phone into his pocket, he continued on his way, only to come to a standstill at the sight of the wide grins on his Di's and Nani's faces. "What?" he asked.

"Kuch bhi toh nahin, Chotte. Achcha, yeh batao...Khushiji kahaan tak pahoonch gayi? Tumhe har paanch second updates milta hoga naah?" Anjali continued grinning.

Poker face on, he replied, "Almost half-way, Di. Kyun?"

Shaking her head as her teasing apparently flew over his head, she said, "Kuch nahin. Bus aise hi pooch rahe the."

Smirking, he settled down beside his Nani, immensely pleased at finally having mastered the art of escaping from the routine teasing that his family threw at him and Khushi. He sat there for a while flipping through a magazine, absently listening to the conversation flowing around him. His Mama and Mami joined them after a while, soon followed by Akash and Payal.

"Lo, sab aa gaye. Bus Khushiji aur Dhruv ko bhi aane do, aur Raizada family complete ho jaayenge", Anjali said with a fond smile. Akash looked up sharply, expecting his Bhai to get up and leave or make a snarling comment, but was surprised to see him continue reading, unperturbed. Not able to figure out what was cooking in Arnav's head, he went back to his conversation with his wife and father.

Arnav was not as unaffected as his brother thought, he was just biding his time till he could see for himself what Khushi had subjected his youngest brother to.

In response to Anjali's comment, Manorma piped up, "Arre Anjali...baat about NK Babua? Oo ko bhool hi gaye ho ka? He ij aaljo necessary, faimily complete hone ke vaaste..."

Arnav looked up then, "I was about to ask about that, Di. Uska kaam ho gaya? Visa renewal done? Kab wapas aa raha hain, Mumbai se? I still don't understnad why he had to go to Mumbai when he could've done it here!"

It was Akash who replied, "Bhai, aap jaante ho naah unko. Koi friend aaya hain Australia se...toh Visa renewal and Goa trip ko club kiya. Actually he is supposed to come back tomorrow, I'll call him later to check."

The conversations ebbed and flowed around Arnav who continued reading, with one eye on the door. He was starting to miss his wife really badly. It wasn't normal that he be at home and wait for her to come back.

**************

Meanwhile, Khushi sat quiet, deep in thought, while Dhruv had dozed off, lulled into a peaceful sleep by the swaying motion of the SUV as it raced over the highway.

Dhruv's confession had shaken her. In addition to bringing her heartbreak at the thought of how much her husband had sacrificed in life, it brought her the responsibility of fixing what had been broken. She would repair what she could, it was her job to return the joys that life had snatched away from her Arnavji. And return him his brother she would!

She looked over at her still asleep companion, a sad smile stretching over her face. The travel combined with the emotional outbirst had tired him out. "Bechara ladka!" she thought, "Ab bhi itna javaan dikhta hain, toh jab yeh sab hua tha, toh bilkul ek bachcha hi raha hoga..."

Turning again to the darkening landscape rushing past her window, she lifted her phone to look at the screensaver. It was one of those rare laughs of her husband that she had clicked a while ago. Running her fingers over that dear face, she smiled, her lips tremulous, "Humein pata nahin hain, Arnavji, ki hum yeh kar payenge ya nahin. Lekin aapko apni khushiyan lautane ke liye hum aapke gusse ka bhi saamna karne ke liye taiyyar hain."

Clutching the phone to her chest, she leant back, her head churning with plans and ideas, each more far-fetched than the one before. Giving up finally, she sighed, deciding to take it as it comes. Stretching to look at the driver, she asked, "Mohanji, ab kitni der lagegi? Ghar mein sab pareshaan ho rahe honge."

Craning his head back as he expertly navigated around the thickening traffic, he replied, "Bus thodi hi der mein hum pahoonchenge, Bhabiji. Dekhiye naah, hum Dilli pahoonch gaye."

Relieved, she quickly sent an sms to her worrywart of a husband, "Dilli pahoonch gaye...jald hi pahoonchenge...aap shaanth rahiyega..."

**************

Arnav was just reaching for his phone to call his still absconding wife, it had been almost half an hour since he had received her message, when the security called to annouce that they had arrived. Striding to the door, he wrenched it open, unmindful of the teasing comments flying behind him. It was too late for her to be out alone, he fumed, conveniently disregarding the person who had accompanied her.

He was just stepping outside as she got down, wrapped snuggly in the shawl her had gifted her earlier. An involuntary sigh escaping him at her safe and sound arrival, he was about to walk over to her when she reached back inside and said, "Dhruv, utho... ghar aa gaya...utho..."

Arnav stood there, gaping, the affection in her tone shocking him to the core. The part of him, that had been looking forward to the fiery tirade his wife was gearing up to throw at his brother, felt as if it were dunked in freezing water. A long-forgotten feeling of betrayal coursing through his veins, he stood there, jaw clenched, hands fisted, staring at his wife who was now helping his apparently half-unconscious brother out of the car.

Khushi looked up suddenly, feeling his gaze on her. A gasp escaping her lips as she took in his expression, she hurriedly left Dhruv and rushed to his side just as he turned around to march back inside. Grabbing his hand, she stepped in front of him, imploring him to look at her. His breath rasping, Arnav stared straight ahead, hurt too deep by what he had just witnessed.

Unmindful of who might be watching, Khushi cupped his face, forcing him to look at her, as she said, "Arnavji, aapko humari baat sunna hoga. Humari kasam, aap aise mooh modke nahin jaa sakte. Aapko yaad hain naah, pichle baar aap aisa kiya toh kya hua tha?"

Stiffening, his eyes flicked down at her, his expression stricken as he remebered their contract marriage. Stunned that she had brought it up like this, he stared at her, taking in her pleading look. Taking a deep breath, he stood for a second, eyes tightly closed, and then, grabbing her hand, strode forward, past a stunned Anjali who had come out to see what the hold-up was.

Turning around to gape after her grim-faced brother and sister-in-law, who were rushing past their surprised family up to their room, Anjali murmured, "Hey Bhagwan, ab kya hua? Abhi abhi toh donon ek doosre ko sms kar rahe the..."

She looked back at Dhruv, who was standing rooted to the spot, still reeling under the exchange he had witnessed. He hadn't been able to make out what had been said, but the look of stunned pain on his brother's face followed by the anger and heartbreak he had seen there had been clear enough. He was sure that his Bhabi was going to be at the receiving end of the infamous ASR temper today, that too, becuase of him.

Anjali was quickly joined by a worried Manorama who constantly lived in dread of the silent war being waged between her son and nephew escalating into a family-feud. "Baat happened, bitwa? Arnav bitwa suddenly itna gussa kyun hain? Woh bhi apan baitter-half ke saath?"

Suddenly feeling drained, Dhruv just shook his head and stumbled past both of them, and the rest of the family, eager to escape to the solitude of his room.

**************

Arnav dropped Khushi's hand the minute they entered their room and stepped out to the poolside. Khushi stood silent, watching her husband's stiff back, her heart breaking at what she had had to say to him. Khushi knew, better than anyone, how much their wedding-misunderstanding still hurt him, how the feeling of guilt still ate at him. She also knew, better than anyone, how it continually reminded him to not take decisions in anger, especially where she was concerned, where his family was concerned.

Taking a shuddering breath as she braced herself for the pain she was going to put him through, she stepped out behind him, and called out softly, "Arnavji..."

Not looking at her, he whispered, his voice raw, "Kabhi kabhi mujhe aisa lagta hain ki main tumhe jaanta hi nahin...toh kabhi aisa bhi lagta hain ki tum mere andar hi basti ho, itni achchi tarah jo jaanta hoon tumhe. Lekin aaj pehli baar mujhe aisa lag raha hain ki tum mujhe samajhti hi nahin hain, Khushi..."

Crashing into him from behind, she hugged him tight and sobbed, "Aise mat boliye...aapki har ek saans se, har ek bhaav se baandhe hue hain hum. Hum jaante hain ki humne neeche jo kaha, usse aapko bahut takleef hua hoga. Humein maaf kar deejiye, Arnavji..."

Feeling her tears soak through his shirt, he sighed deeply and tugged her arms that were wrapped around him closer. Standing in her embrace for a minute, he turned around, only to have her stand sobbing, head bent in apology. Gently pulling her chin up, he cupped her face, wiping her tears away. Realising that they needed to talk this out, he sat on the deck-chair, pulling her down on his lap.

Leaning back, his wife clasped tightly in his arms, he closed his eyes, trying to calm down and push the image of Khushi attending to Dhruv away from his mind. As he waited for Khushi to compose herself, he started speaking softly, "Khushi, jab hum saari galatfaimiyan door hoke ek hua, tab maine apne aap se yeh promise kiya tha ki uss din se aage humari zindagi mein kabhi bhi koi galatfaimy aane ki mauka hi nahin doonga. No more communication gaps, miscommunications or misunderstandings. Whatever happens, we'll talk honestly and sort it out, ki andar dabaake kabhi bhi nahin rakhenge. We have both suffered more than enough because of blindly assuming things, hain naah?"

Sniffling, she nodded against his chest. Relaxing as she too started quieting, he continued, holding her closer, "Do you know why? Because main jaanta hoon ki iss duniya mein aisa koi bhi nahin hain jo mujhe tumse zyada pyaar karta ho. And mujhse zyada tumhe pyaar karnewala bhi koi nahin hain. And aisi situation mein, we both will never do anything that would hurt the other, right?"

To say that Khushi was shocked would be an understatement. Sitting up, she looked at her husband in wonder, awestruck to see him speak so rationally, so patiently. Looking at her stunned face, Arnav smiled, a bittersweet smile, "Kya hua? Yakeen nahin ho raha, ki tumhara Laad Governor ko aise bhi baatein karna aata hain?"

As she nodded involuntarily, he chuckled, his love shining out of his eyes as he dropped a long kiss on her forehead, "Mera irrational gussa tumhare liye kabhi nahin rise hoga, Khushi. You are the one that has suffered the most because of it, and I'll never be able to forgive myself for that."

Placing her hand over his mouth, she shook her head violently, "Nahin, Arnavji. Hum uss raat tay kiye the naah, ki hum yeh dukh-bhari beeti baaton ko bhool jaayeinge? Toh aise kyun apne aap ko takleef de rahe ho aap? Humne uss din bhi kaha tha naah, hum jaante hain ki aapne jo bhi kiya, apne pyaar mein kiya, aur woh apni jagah sahi bhi tha. Aap apne dil se nikaal deejiye inn baaton ko."

Looking at her intently, he asked, "Bhoolne ki koshish toh mein kar raha tha, Khushi, tumhare kehne par. Toh phir aaj tum hi usski yaad kyun dilaa di?"

Stricken, she stared at him, tears pooling in her eyes as she realised how much her one sentence had hurt him. Looking down at her hand that was clutched tight in his, she replied, the words falling tremulously from the lips, "Kyunki meri tarah, koi aur bhi hain jo iss gusse ki wajah se peedit hain, jo aapki aur unki kahi hui baaton se saalon se dukhi hain."

His breath hitching as he realised what she was reffering to, he turned his head. She must have had her talk with his brother afterall, "No, Khushi. We will not discuss that subject, maine kaha tha tumse."

Cupping his face, she forcibly turned his face back to look at her and said, "Abhi abhi aapne hi kaha ki no more communication gaps, miscommunications or misunderstandings. Toh baat nahin karenge toh kaise, Arnavji?"

Sighing in defeat, he leaned his forehead against hers, "Tum baat kiya hoga naah, usse? Woh hi kaafi hain. Baad mein bataa dena mujhe."

"Aap bade hain, Arnavji. Chotton ki galtiyon ko maaf karna aapki zimmedaari hain. Aur toh aur, aap donon ne gusse mein jo bhi kaha..."

Shushing her withh his finger, he gazed at her for a second and said, weariness evident in every word, "Not now, not today. Please, Khushi, let it go."

Deciding to take it one day at a time, she nodded, sensing his reluctance to discuss a subject that was still very raw to him. Seeing the relief in his eyes as she agreed, she also promised herself that the matter would be resolved soon. Both the brothers had suffered enough. She could sense the desire in both of them for a reconciliation, though neither would admit to it, especially her Arnavji. An idea forming in her mind, she looked at him and implored, "Par aapko humse waada karna hoga ki hum Dhruv ke baare mein zaroor baat karenge."

Stiffening at the name, Arnav stared at his wife, who was silently pleading with him, and relented, "Okay, fine. Now let's go have dinner. Sab soch rahe honge ki manie tumhe khaa liya, and will come for investigations any time now."

Standing up, Khushi pulled him into a tight hug, apologising again for hurting him. Understanding her unspoken words, he returned the squeeze, dropping a soft kiss on the top of her head, "Forget it, Khushi...Tumhare liye kuch bhi maaf hain. Ab chalo..."

Walking downstairs behind him, her hand secure in his, she thought, "Ab Dhruv ki baari..."

**************

Dinner passed uneventfully, Dhruv not putting in an appearance, apparently deciding to sleep through it. The concerned looks of the family turned into ones of relief as they saw them talk and eat normally. After dinner, Akash and his father called Arnav's attention to a contract they were working on and the three headed off to the study to discuss, calling back to the women that they would be back in an hour or so.

Khushi was busily supervising the cleaning and closing of the kitchen along with Anjali and Payal, when her Mami and Nani came up behind her, worry evident on their faces. "Khushi bitiya, kauno jhagda hua, ka?" Devyani asked, "Dhruv ko leke?" as an anxious Manorama looked on.

Pressing their hands in reassurance, she smiled, "Nahin, Naniji. Aap chinta mat keejiye, sab theek ho jaayega."

Turning to Manorama, she asked, "Mamiji, Dhruv kuch khaaya nahin?"

Mamiji shook her head sadly, "Nahin, Khusi bitiya. Bolat rahe ki hungry naahin hain. Thoda fruits atleast kha sakta tha."

Brightening, Khushi turned to Anjali, "Di, hum Dhruv ke liye phal leke jaa rahein hain. Woh jo wahan rakha hua hain naah, ek plate mein de deejiye." Turning back to Manorama, she continued, "Aap fikar mat keejiye, Mamiji, hum use khilakar hi aayenge."

Taking the plate from Anjali, she rushed upstairs, leaving the bemused women, totally confused by the weird happenings of the evening, behind.

**************

Pushing open the door to his room, Khushi paused, staring at the empty bed. Seeing the bathroom door standing open as well, she looked across the room, finally spotting him standing out on the balcony, staring at the night. Taking in his pose, she once again thought how like her husband he was in mannerisms, though in looks, he was almost a twin of her Jijaji, albeit a shorter, darker version.

"Iska gussa bhi Jijaji ke tarah hota toh yeh sab kabhi nahin hua hota", she sighed, thinking fondly of her jovial, calm brother-in-law, who was even-tempered even in his anger. "Lekin nahin, humare Arnavji par hi jaana tha! Donon bhaiyyon milke humare jaan le lenge, beech mein jo phassi hoon!"

Walking in, she kept the plate down on the sidetable and went to him. Hearing her steps, he jerked around, his face still raw from his emotional outburst. Feeling a little awkward at having broken down in front of her, he fidgeted, stuffing one hand into his pocket, the other running through his already messed up hair. He wanted to ask if all was well between her and his Bhaiyya, but couldn't figure out how to breach such a personal topic.

Looking at him intently, she asked, "Itna pareshaan kyun ho. Dhruv?"

Letting out a hissing breath, he shrugged, "Kuch nahin, Bhabi. Bus sone jaa raha tha."

She could almost see the confusion and frustration in his mind, courtesy his expressive face, "Toh iss mein yeh apne Bhaiyya ke jaise nahin hain", she thought, as she pictured the famous poker-face of ASR, which had now become an open book to her, though only to her. "Bilkul Mamiji par gaye hain...itna saaf jo chehre par dikhaai deta hain, inki mann ki baat."

Wanting to comfort him as she could, she smiled at him softly, "Pareshaan mat ho. Sab theek hain, hum aur aapke Bhaiyya bhi."

As he looked up at her, surprised at how intuitive she was, she continued, "Ab aap yeh phal khaaiye aur so jaayiye. Kal aapko bahut kuch karna hain, toh ab thoda aaraam keejiye."

Before he could ask her what she meant by him having to do a lot of work tomorrow, she walked away. Pausing at the door, she turned to look back at the young man standing erect, staring at her and smiled, " Khaana zaroor!"

**************

Arnav walked into his room much later to find it empty. Automatically turning to the poolside, he saw his wife standing there, looking up at the sky. Smiling gently, he walked up behind her and put his hands around her waist, drawing her into him. She leaned back, her hands dropping to cover his, as he tucked her head under his chin and breathed in deep, relaxing under her warmth.

Flicking his eyes up at the starry sky, he whispered, "Apne Amma aur Babuji se meri shikaayat kar rahi ho?"

Giggling, she shook her head, tickling his nose with her hair, "Nahin toh. Aapne aaj kuch aisa nahin kiya naah. Aaj hum shikaayat karne ki koshish bhi ki toh humein daant padenge, aapko dukhi karne ke liye. Lagta hain Laad Governor unke bhi laadla ban gaye hain!"

Chuckling at her declaration, he hugged her tighter and dropped a kiss on her shoulder. "Toh kya kar rahi thi, tum?"

Sobering suddenly, though he couldn't see her face, she replied, "Hum toh Mamma se baat kar rahe the, unse maafi maang rahe the."

This was serious, he thought. Smile vanishing, he straightened and turned her around to face him, "Kyun, Khushi? Aisa kya karne jaa rahi ho tum?"

Staring at him, surprised at his question, she asked, "Aapko kaise pataa ki hum jo karne jaa rahe hain uske liye maafi maang rahe hain? Isske liye bhi ho sakta hain naah, jo aaj humne kiya? Aapko bahut takleef diye the naah aaj?"

Putting his hands around her neck, he leaned down, giving a quick peck on her nose and smirked, "Because, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, main tumhara pati hoon, tumhare baare mein sab kuch jaanta hoon. Now tell me, tumhare yeh mad dimaag mein kya pak raha hain?"

Mirroring his pose, she leaned up to circle his neck with her hands and replied, "Pehle aapko humein yeh waada karna hoga ki hum jo keh rahe hain, woh aap hamesha yaad rakhenge."

As he lifted one eyebrow, she continued, "Waada keejiye ki aap yeh hamesha yaad rakhenge ki hum jo kuch bhi karte hain, woh aapko jitna bhi pareshaan karein, ya shuroo-shuroo mein takleef bhi dein, aapke bhale ke liye, aapke khushi ke liye hi kar rahe honge...waada keejiye..."

Standing silent for a minute, he took in her adored face, wreathed in absolute love and concern for him, and pushing aside the misgivings that arose in his mind at her statement, whispered, "I promise, Khushi. I know that tum jo bhi karogi, mere liye hi karogi."

As she smiled in relief, he pulled into his arms and continued, "Bus ek karna mere liye...agar mein yeh baat kabhi bhi bhool gaya toh mujhe yaad dila dena...roothke chale jaana mat...waada?"

Hugging him with all her might, she replied, "Hamesha..."

Pulling back, he smiled down at her, that lovely smile he reserved just for his Khushi, before lifting her up in his arms and carrying her inside, as a gentle breeze flowed around them, the very air resplendent with starlight.

This part started off in an entirely different direction, but ended up becoming all about Arnav and his Khushi!

Maybe the subconscious desire in me to see them together (after a couple of updates without them) took over my thinking brain!

Anyway, I am pretty happy with how it turned out, even though it has ended up stretching this FF by one more part!

My darling readers, do let me know how it was...

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