Vignettes -12. From ... , with love - Page 43

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Now, here's part 9 - Enjoy!

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The next day dawned dull and white, one of those extra cold days of January. Bustling around getting breakfast ready, Khushi looked up at the clock and exclaimed, "Hey Devi Maiyya! It's getting late! Why hasn't Arnavji come down yet? And he has a meeting in the morning!"

Just then Akash came rushing down, followed close behind by his father. Calling out to Payal to get him his breakfast, he hurried off to the study to collect the documents they had left there the previous night. Still not seeing neither hide nor hair of her usually punctual husband, Khushi ran upstairs to check why he was taking such a long time in getting ready. Her plans for the day depended on having him out of the house at the earliest.

Barging into their room, she found him donning his waistcoat, his movements sluggish. Concern clouding her face, she ran to him. She placed her hand on his forehead and neck, checking his temperature, "What's wrong, Arnavji? Are you not well?"

Sniffling, he looked at her miserably, "It is that dratted cold again", refering to the runny-nose and cold he had had the previous week, which had disappeared a couple of days ago. It was apparently poking its head up again.

Throwing all her plans out of the window in the face of her Arnavji's ill health, she pulled him down onto their bed, "Then don't go to office today, please. Why don't you take rest for the day? Jijaji and Mamaji can handle the meeting, can't they?"

Shaking his head, he stood up again, "No, Khushi, I have to be there today. They are not as familiar with the contract as I am. Just make a cup of hot tea for me. I'll have that instead of my juice today."

Realising that he was in his ASR mode today and that any argument would be futile, she sat there, quiet. Sighing at her downcast face, he pulled her for a quick hug, "I'll be fine!"

Hugging him back, she mumbled against his chest, "Till when is your meeting?"

Sniffing again, he replied, "Till one o'clock. Why?"

Leaning back to fix him with her sternest look, she ordered, "Then promise me that you'll be at home by one-thirty. No excuses, Arnavji!"

Lifting an eyebrow at her tone, he smirked, "Is that an order, my wife?"

Folding her hands, she nodded, "Ji. If you don't take rest today, you'll be even more sick tomorrow and you know it! So, yes, it is an order!"

Knowing that she was right, considering how miserable he had been the week before, the persistent cold wrecking havoc in his work, he agreed, "Okay. Then don't pack my lunch. I'll come home by then. Happy now?"

Smiling, she nodded happily, "Now, come down quick, you're getting late."

Leaving him to grab his bag, she hurried out, calling back that she would have his ginger-tea ready by the time he came down. As she went downstairs, she saw Dhruv walking down the steps in front of her, busy talking to his Bhai who had come upstairs to call him for breakfast. She walked morosely behind him, now remembering all the things she had planned for getting Dhruv to go to their office.

A sudden brainwave made her pause, her face breaking into a wide grin. "It is a bit mad, but it just might work", she thought, "And it will be mad, it is Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada's idea after all . Just as Arnavji says, I'm a unique piece!"

She continued along her way, a new spring in her step. It would work, she was sure. She just needed to get Di to help her out.

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

She decided to wait patiently for the men to leave, before cornering her Di. Finally finishing their breakfast, they headed out, Arnav pausing at the door to look back and nod his good-bye to his wife. Seeing her gaze after him sadly, he sighed and walked back to Anjali. "Di, look at her! Dramebaaz! I'm fine!"

Smiling fondly at him, she cupped his cheek, "It's her job to worry, Chotte...she's your wife. Now, it's even more serious since she's madly in love with you..." Looking at Khushi who was now gearing up to yell at her husband, she chuckled, "Let her. And, don't forget that we all know what state you end up in when she's the one who's sick!"

Turning back to him, she admonished, "Now, take care of yourself and get yourself back home quick! Else I'll be the one to help Khushiji in dragging you home!"

Shaking his head at the women who had apparently taken over his life, he walked out again, unsuccessfully trying to hide his smile. Pausing at the door again to look back and smile at his wife, he left, calling back that he would be home for lunch.

The minute he was out of the house, Khushi caught hold of Anjali and dragged her aside, "Di, I need your help!"

Used to her sister-in-law's dramatic statements, Anjali grinned at her, "Ji, Madam, waht can I do for you? Are you cooking up some plan to rile up your Arnavji?"

Scrunching up her nose at the teasing, Khushi replied, "Nahin, Di! I'm serious!"

Looking around to make sure that they wouldn't be overheard, she continued, "You'll have to take everyone out this afternoon, that is, everyone except Dhruv."

Her face blanching as she realised that Khushi was planning to bring Arnav and Dhruv face-to-face today, Anjali stammered, "What are you planning, Khushiji? What if it becomes worse. And Chotte's sick today, his patience-level will be even lower than usual. If Dhruv ..."

Clutching at her hands, Khushi interrupted, "Shh...Di, why are you worrying so much? It will be fine, just let me complete..."

As she explained her plan, Anjali started relaxing slowly, but her face still mirrored her worry at everything blowing up and shattering irreparably. Cupping her cheek, Khushi asked, "Don't you trust me?"

As Anjali nodded mutely, she continued, "And you know that I know my Arnavji well enough, right?"

This time, Anjali smiled, "Absolutely! You are the one who can read into his silences, even, Khushiji. Okay, I'll do as you say."

Hugging her Di tightly, Khushi whispered, "Just pray that everything goes well, Di, that Devi Maiyya makes everything right."

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

Manorama and Anjali were just finishing the preparations for the pooja they were going to in the evening when the front door opened, followed by the cheerful voice that had been missing for a few days, "Ladies, I'm back!"

Grinning widely even as they turned around, they headed out to the living area to see a smirking NK standing in an SRK-pose, waiting to be welcomed in.

Just then Nani arrived from her room and stood there, hands on hips, and scolded, "Nanhe! Where were you? Not even a phone! This kind of behaviour is not acceptable! You've grown up now, be responsible."

Quickly walking to her, he enveloped her in a hug and replied, "Sorry, Naniji! I had a spot of trouble,ek kuseemat, on the way. Took me two days to escape. So I couldn't call..."

Hearing this, Anjali hurried up, "Kuseemat nahin, NK Bhai, musseebat!"

Following close behind, his Mausi asked, "Baat haippened, bitwa? And tumre kilothes ko ka hua?", taking in his disheveled appearance.

He was about to launch into a long explanation when he spotted someone coming down the steps, the sight robbing him of speech for a few seconds. Seeing him standing as if he had seen a ghost, Anjali turned to see what had caught his attention, just as he whispered, "Dhruv!"

Whipping around to face Khushi, he asked urgently, "Dhruv has come back? Where's Nannav? What'd he say?"

Her heart filling up with love for her dewar whose unshakable loyalty to his Nannav was awe-inspiring, Khushi smiled at him, "It's all fine, Nanheji. Arnavji is fine with this."

As someone who knew of the falling out, who had seen the state Nannav had been in after his return from the US, NK stared at Khushi incredulously, not able to belive that his cousin had become such a forgiving person all on a sudden. He was about to ask in detail when Anjali poked him to be quiet, as Dhruv had come down and was heading to him with an awkward smile.

Dhruv had never really known NK much, but had heard a lot about him from Di, about how he had helped Khushi Bhabi and Bhaiyya during his kidnapping, and how he always supported Bhabi in all her plans. Feeling slightly left-out in the warm welcome that NK was getting, he walked up to say hello and was greeted by an assessing look and a grim half-smile. The person standing in front of him not matching the description he had got even slightly, he made his escape after the formalities and settled down to watch some TV, even as the ladies forced an all too willing NK to have his breakfast.

The jolly sounds drifting up to his ears, he was once again reminded of how long he had been away from home. Apparently NK was the joker of the family, judging by the shouts of laughter from his mother, sister and sisters-in-law, and had been missed much. Feeling depressed, he got up and went to the safety of his room.

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

After an early lunch, Anjali managed to convince everyone to go with her to attend a Gita class at the temple, even dragging a sleepy NK along. Turning to wave goodbye to her sister-in-law as the car started, she prayed that everything go as per Khushi's plan and not have the opposite effect.

Going ahead with her plan of having the house to themselves, Khushi gave the domestic help the afternoon off and waited for her husband to reach back, thankful that Dhruv was shut in his room, totally unaware of the fact that except for his Bhabi, the house was now empty. Not having been able to check on his health dur to his morning meeting, she decided to give her Arnavji a call. Promptly picking up after the first ring, he greeted her with a sneeze and an oath, "Oh Bloody Hell!"

"Haun! Is this how you greet your wife?", she giggled. Sobering up quickly as she heard him struggle to breathe normally, Khushi murmured, "Feeling sick? Enough now...Come home..."

Decidedly feeling sick now, Arnav replied, already gathering his stuff, "I'm just leaving, Khushi. I just want to lay down for a while. Don't make me a heavy lunch. Just something hot and light."

Smiling at his eagerness to leave his office, she smiled, "Chalo...a miracle happened today, thanks to your cold! ASR's leaving office early!Waah!"

Chuckling at his irrepressible wife, he muttered, "Oh shut up, Khushi! See you soon!"

Feeling a little guilty at using her husband's illness as a part of her 'masterplan', Khushi went to the kitchen, repeating to herself the information that she had got from Di about Dhruv and his allergies.

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

Arnav strode in to find the house empty, except for his wife who came running to receive him. Feeling ridiculously pleased at having her all to himself, he wrapped her in his arms and murmured, "Let me pass on some of my germs. Then we can both be sick and in bed!"

Leaning back, she smacked him on his chest, glaring at him in mock-anger, "Besharam! I'm not coming near you! Now, come have your lunch..."

As he kept down his bag and coat and followed her, he asked, "Where's everyone?"

Turning slightly, she smiled at him and replied, "Gone with Di for a Gita class. They'll be back only at night." Pausing suddenly, she exclaimed, "Arre, that reminds me, Dhruv hasn't eaten yet. Arnavji, I'll call him and come."

His face immediately taking on a scowl, Arnav snapped, "Why do you have to run after everyone? Are you a servant? Send someone to call whoever you want to after I have my lunch!"

Thrilled at having caught his attention, Khushi replied innocently, "Arnavji, I gave them the afternoon off, seeing how no one's at home. If I call Dhruv later, I'll have to make everything once again. Well, if that's what you want..."

Gnashing his teeth, Arnav glared at his wife, half-suspicious of her innocent words. His wife had a shrewd brain, he knew, and the more innocent she looked, the wilder her plans would be. But love for her winning over everything else, he jerked his head in annoyed agreement, not wanting to make her work more in the kitchen, "If everyone's gone, then why is he still here?"

Mentally doing the tango, Khushi replied in the same innocent tone, "Don't know. Haven't seen him since breakfast. Didn't see him even when Di left."

As she turned again to go to the kitchen, she stopped and exclaimed, "Hey Devi Maiyya! What if he's also fallen sick? Let me go see!", and promptly changed directions to run up the stairs.

Exasperated, Arnav was about to tell her to stop with her fussing when she stopped on the second step and let loose another exclamation, "I remember how Di had once told me about the terrible colds and fevers you both used to get!"

Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Arnav sighed in frustration and plopped down on the sofa, when Khushi was in her 'take-care-of-others mode there was no reasoning with her. As for Khushi, who had seen the flash of concern in her husband's eyes as she mentioned Dhruv's old episodes of illness, it was a moment of sweet success, the realisation dawning on her that her mission was not an impossible one.

Barging into Dhruv's room, she found him hunched over his laptop, busily talking to someone in some foreign language. Seeing her, he immediately stopped, and smiling at her, said to his caller, "Un momento, espere..."

Motioning at him to continue, she whispered, "Come down once you finish...luch's ready."

As he smiled and nodded, she flashed him a quick grin and ran downstairs again.

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

Arnav was leaning back, drowsy from the tablet he had taken in the morning, when he felt his wife soft, warm hands gently massaging his head. Not moving his head, he opened his eyes with a smile, and sat there, blissfully enjoying her loving minstrations.

Smiling down at him, Khushi dropped a kiss on his forehead and said, "Come to the dining table...I'll bring you a glass of hot badam-milk first."

Nodding, he stretched and got up, pulling her along with him. As he sat down at the table, Arnav pulled her close and sat for a moment, leaning sideways on her, before releasing her. Ruffling his hair, she rushed off to get his badam-milk, calling back at him not to fall asleep before eating.

Quickly heating up the milk and adding the badam paste to it, she prayed that Arnavji still remembered about Dhruv's allergies, the ones that Di had spoken of in vivid detail. Her plan hinged on her husband being forced to communicate to his brother.

Walking back with the milk, she handed it to Arnav and sat down next to him, chatting with him and catching up on the day's office-news, making sure not to let it show as to how impatiently she was waiting for Dhruv to come down. Soon enough, she heard his steps on the stairs, and noted with glee that other than his hand tightening on the glass in his hand, Arnav made no move to get up and leave. A bit contritely she thought, "Maybe it's because he's not well..."

Pushing aside all feelings of guilt and sternly reminding herself of the bigger issue, Khushi stood up and called out, "Oh good, you've come. Sit, I'll bring the food."

Pausing for a moment as he spotted his brother sitting at the table, scowling into his glass of milk, Dhruv walked up hesitantly, throwing an apprehensive glance at his Bhabi who was now walking to the sideboard to get their plates. Calling back in as casual a tone as she could manage, Khushi said, "I'll get you a glass of hot milk as well. Its so cold today, it'll feel good."

Making a great show of pouring the left-over badam milk into a tall glass, she walked back, smiling at Dhruv, "Here..", conveniently leaving out the 'Badam' part out of the sentence. Handing it to him, she glanced at her husband who was staring at his young brother, frozen in place. To a person uneducated in the language spoken by Arnav Singh Raizada's eyes, nothing would have seemed amiss. But to his beloved wife, who was atuned to every nuance of his expressions, the horror in his eyes were visible, plain as day.

As Arnav took in the horrifying scene playiing out in front of him, he was thrown back to those days when Dhruv, then a young boy, would inadvertently eat something with nuts in them and start turning blue, choking and wheezing. Invariably, it would be Arnav who would grab him and run to the hospital, Dhruv lying lifelessly in his arms, the rest of the family overcome with hysterics. Now, he was going to have to do that again, as his brother drank the milk not having a clue that it had badam in it. Just as Dhruv raised the glass to his lips, Arnav leapt across the table to slam it away, a strangled yell erupting from his throat, "No!"

The glass smashing into smithereens, Dhruv leapt to his feet, staring blankly at the mess on the floor, while Khushi, barely controlling her glee, turned to her husband and screamed, "Arnavji! What are you doing?"

His breath still coming fast and sharp, Arnav stared at her angrily, "It had badam in it! Do you even know what could have happened? He is allergic! If Dhruv..." trailing off, he looked away, fighting to control his rage, which had surfaced suddenly, and if not dealt with, would find a convenient target in his unsuspecting wife.

Turning around, he marched off into the library, leaving a gaping Dhruv and a thrilled Khushi behind. Turning to his Bhabi, Dhruv whispered, "What?"

Schooling her features into a sober look, she replied, lying through her teeth, "Forgive me, please, Dhruv. I'd forgotten about your allergy. Thank God your Bhaiyya remembers each and every detail where you are concerned."

Still looking blank, he repeated after her, "Bhaiyya remembers..."

Feeling tearful at the sight of the young man in front of her, who looked as if all his dreams had been handed to him on a plate, Khushi decided to risk it a little more and pointing to her book that was lying on the dining table, said, "Dhruv, do me a favour? I'll clean this up. Can you return this book to the library?"

Not waiting for an answer, she handed him a glass of ordinary milk that she had kept aside and said, "And this is plain milk. Drink this before you go."

Still in a daze, Dhruv didnot realise that his Bhabi was sending him after his brother and drinking up the foamy milk in quick gulps, walked off to the library, book in hand. Knowing that the sight of his milk-moustache would send her Arnavji into the kand of worry and force him to talk to Dhruv, Khushi walked back to the kitchen to make some soup for her still-sniffing-from-a-cold husband, forcibly tamping down her guilt at manipulating his caring nature.

In her absent-minded state, she didnot even notice as she stumbled against the jar of used oil when reaching for the soup-pan, and caused a few drops to spill over. Busy in making soup, she went back to planning how she would bring the brothers face-to-face at the dining table.

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

Arnav was standing against the far window of the library, staring out across the lawn when he heard a shuffling footstep behind him. Still lost in memories of their childhood, he called out, "How many times do I have to tell you? Learn to walk like a man, Dhruv!"

The sudden silence brought him out of his reverie and he realised what he had just said out loud. Not turning around, he continued standing there, hands clenched and eyes squeezed shut, waiting for his brother to leave, his emotions again swirling very close to the surface.

As for Dhruv, the resurfacing of his old habit of dragging his feet when lost in thought, coupled with hearing his brother speak normally to him after years, had the effect equivalent to being dunked in icewater. Almost involuntarily, he started, "Bhaiyya, I..."

The reply was a roar, "No! You do not get to call me that!"

Whipping around, eyes flashing dangerously, Arnav bellowed, "You lost that right when..."

He trailed off as he took in the sight of his pale-faced brother, standing there, almost trembling from suppressed emotions, the caricature completely by the majestic white moustache he sported. But for Arnav, the sight robbed him off his breath as the thought that Dhruv had indeed drunk the badam-milk dawned on him. Expecting his brother to collapse from an allergic reaction any second, he leapt across the room, reaching to hold him up and take him to the hospital.

"You drank that milk? Oh, my God, Dhruv! Didn't you hear when I said that it has nuts in it? What the hell is wrong with you?"

As he took in the sight of his Bhaiyya's scared face, happiness breaking over him in waves, Dhruv had just held out his hand to reassure him that he hadn't had that milk when the air rang with a scream, followed by a dull thud.

Even as Arnav jerked as if shot and whispered, "Khushi...", Dhruv had already turned to run back, calling out, "Bhabi...!"

Cliffhanger!!!

To those wonderful souls who miss the OSs - Don't worry, people, they're there, written and ready! You see, I write atleast 3-4 OSs in advance before posting, and this one, if you remember, started of as an OS!

Once this one's over, which it will be soon, the others will be posted as per the usual schedule...

A complete layout of the house will be incorporated in one of the upcoming OSs...the Architect in me is having a ball planning it all out! (To the uninitiated, I am a practising Architect / Asst.Professor of Architecture.)

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