Chapter 9
"I'm here Di."
Arnav & Khushi heard an excited voice from outside & turned their heads to look at the direction of voice.
"NK?" Arnav said with disbelief in his voice.
"Who K?" Khushi uttered looking confused at Arnav.
"What the f..!Yeh cartoon yahan kya kar raha hai?"
Both came out of the kitchen & went towards main doors.Amid a circle of luggage stood our new entry in the tale,posing like SRK in Yashraj movies,Nandkishor. With innocent 1000 watt infectious smile & naughty glint in his eyes,he looked at both of them.
"SUPPRIZE." He screamed.
"NK?" Arnav went forward.
"Nanav what are you doing here?" He exclaimed & dashed towards him to take him in a bear hug.Arnav held his hands up in surprise while being taken in NK's hug.
"Seriously NK.We are grown ups now." NK's twisting His name in worst possible manner & his accent irked Arnav to the core.He gave an death glare to him.
"What a pleasant surprise dude." NK ignored his comment & looks while bouncing in excitement.
"You surprised me dude.Tum yahan achanak kaise?" Arnav asked curiously.
"I wanted to surprise Di man.Kakshabandhan bhi hai na next week.Di se face to face Rakhi bandhwane aaya hoon." NK just couldn't contain his excitement.
"What?You mean Rakshabandhan,right?"
"Yeah right.Kakshabandhan rakshabandhan ek hi baat hai." NK dimple smiled.
'Aalu aur bhalu mey farak hota hai stupid' Arnav stopped himself from saying it aloud.'Pata nahi ye beech mey kahan se aa gaya.'Arnav wondered mentally.And up there somewhere far above 7th sky Devi Maiyya thought in mischief,'Ab aayega truck pool ke neeche.'
Suddenly NK's eyes fell on Khushi who was standing aside & looking at the not-so-friendly interaction between the two men with confusion.His eyes became dreamy & he turned to Arnav.
"Nannav mere bhai.You didn't introduced us." NK gestured at Khushi & said naughtily.He didn't like the way NK was looking at her.
"She is Khushi.Di's friend & Khushi this is Nandkishor my cousin from Australia." He introduced NK to her in most uninterested manner.
"Dude.It's NK not Nandkishor." He said hurriedly & turned to her. "Oh wow.Khushi,that means happiness,right?Hi Khushiji.Aapse mil ke bahut kachha laga." Khushi laughed out loud.NK's accent & his blunderous hindi amused her a lot.She liked the guy.
"Kachha nahi NKJi achha.Hume bhi aapse mil ke achha laga." Khushi said correcting his blunder while shaking his hand.
NK held her hand a bit longer than necessary.Arnav's eyes fell over their hands & he shot another angry glare at his poor brother,who immediately let go of her hand after witnessing those murderous instinct in his cousin's eyes. 'What's wrong with Arn...ermm...Nannav?'NK thought about the potential reason behind Arnav's current state but his innocent brain couldn't comprehend anything.
"Guys let's go inside.Where is Di?"
"She is..." Arnav said only to be stopped by an suddenly excited Khushi.
"Anjaliji is in Delhi."
"Delhi...but why?" NK looked in confusion at her.
"Yeah NKji.Let me tell you the full story." Khushi said literally dragging NK inside at lounge area.
"Wow I love stories." NK jumped with excitement & followed her.
Arnav stood dumbstruck in the middle of the main door,looking incredulously at both of them.
"Seriously?" He muttered to himself & looked at both of them unbelievably.Devi Maiyya ROFLed in heaven looking at his priceless expressions.Arnav went inside finally giving in when he realized he was standing outside for straight 2 minutes & neither of both looked concerned.He sat opposite to NK.Khushi narrated her 'story' to NK with extra pepper & spice which NK heard very religiously without even blinking an eyelid & a silly grin plastered on his face.Arnav sat there listening to her nonstop chatter express & shooting daggers at NK who has her complete attention.He felt a pang of jealousy.
"Wow.You are great Khushiji."NK said while beaming like a bulb.Arnav passed an disgusted look at him.NK decided to avoid thinking on what's-wrong-with-my-brother & pay full attention to Khushiji's-story-telling.
Khushi quoted her very famous story telling,completely ignoring Arnav's presence with her next sentence.
"I'm dying to meet Barun Sobti." She said dreamily.
"What the." Arnav exclaimed in disbelief.What else could anyone expect in such situations from the mighty ASR.
Both NK & Khushi looked at him with startled expressions.Khushi wondered if he was undergoing some health issue.Because his 'What The' attacks were more frequent these days.She made a mental note to discuss this with Anjaliji.
"What happened Nannav mere bhai?Are you alright?"
"I'v work to do." Arnav said without hiding sarcasm in his tone & completely ignored NK's concern.He strode out of the lounge area towards his room upstairs.Khushi & NK sat there thinking of him for their own different reasons.Devi Maiyya highfived her Tigerbusa in a teenager's excitement.It started working finally.She was damn sure about her success this time.In his room Arnav measured all the widths & lengths of room in frustration while cursing his cousin for nth time.His frustration grew further by thinking about Khushi's response to his cartoon brother.Was he in less misery that NK appeared to increase it further.
The remaining day for Arnav,turned out to be a torturous one.Credit goes to his irritating cousin.He stuck by Khushi's side all day as if he was stuck with 'fevicole ka jod'.The ultimate bond.Arnav's irritation reached new heights if that was even possible,by each passing hour.But could he complain?How could he,where his brother & his Khushi concerned.Wait a minute.Where did this 'HIS' Khushi came from?He double checked with himself & thought,'Right.I'v met her before that joker NK.'
'Right.You'v all her rights reserved just for you & your brother is a joker from now on.' Devi Maiyya thought in amusement & chuckled. 'Just wait & watch what more is coming your way.'
Dinner was served & Arnav was not at all interested in it.His interest was in two people sitting across him on dining table.Khushi & NK.Khushi who treated him like some decorative showpiece.And NK refused to leave even a single chance to irritate him.He felt like throwing NK out of the house.In his imaginations he already did so.Though Khushi was pretending to ignore him actually she was observing his every glance & expression.When she saw the aggressive instincts in his eyes,she decided to take the game to the next level.She was enjoying being devil.She praised NK in her sweetest best voice.NK blushed on it.Arnav's anger reached it's peak.He finished off his dinner & stood pushing the chair with extra force.The chair stumbled behind & made noise.NK got startled by this & jumped on his place.
"Easy dude.What's your problem?"
'You are my problem.'Arnav thought but said nothing & left from there with grim face.
"Forget it NKji.Inhe toh bas bevajah gussa karna aur what the karna aata hai."
"You are right Khushiji.Pachpan se hee Nannav aisa hai." NK said winking at her.
"Pachpan nahi NKji bachpan." Khushi corrected his miss'hindi.
"Oh yeah.That one." He tilted his head & said.
They had their dinner amid jokes & laughter.They were both one of a kind.Khushi enjoyed NK's company but she enjoyed Arnav's annoyance more.She went to the poolside after changing into her nightwear.She talked to the stars & told them how she was enjoying her vacation & wanted all this to never end.She heard footsteps behind her & turned to find Arnav looking at her.
"Enjoying much?" He said in his husky voice.
"Excuse me?"
"I see you look pretty happy today."
"Yes.You have any problem with that?" She said stubbornly.
"No.In fact I wanted to make you more happy." He came close to her all the while locking his eyes with her.
"What?" She stared in confusion at him.
"I have an offer for you." He said seriously.
"Offer?What offer?"
"There is the International Fashion Week going to happen after 2 days.We are showcasing our latest collection there."
"OK! So?"
"I'm hiring you to assist in this event." He said without any hint of humor as she thought he must be joking.
"What?I mean are you serious?" Shock was very much clear on her face.
"I do not say anything untill I'm serious.
"But I..I...I..."
"I'm sure you'll be fit for this job.I don't make any deal if I see any type of loss in it.I hope you won't let me down."
"But how...could..I ...I mean..."
"I remember you saying that you are a designer & you wished to attend fashion show.So.Here is your chance.There is no hurry.You can tell me in morning if you want to do this." He said in utter businessman attitude.He knew he had cracked this deal successfully.
"But Why me?You could get anyone to do this for you."
"It's a last minute requirement & nothing could be arranged in such short notice.So I considered you for this.But if you are not interested then..." He lied & Khushi hurriedly cut him off midsentence.
"No...I mean yes.I need time to think."
"Fine.Tell me in morning." Arnav said & left from poolside smirking inwardly.
Khushi came out of her shocked state & started thinking.It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for her to see & be with what she had aspired all these days.International Fashion Week.She imagined herself there & trembled in excitement.
Khushi thanked Devi Maiyya for this & did a quick & instant Dhinka Chika.
Devi Maiyya who was too flattered by the initial success of her latest move,patted her own back & did a mental Dhinka Chika.
Arnav who had found out a way to keep NK out of Khushi's 'network area', patted his own back minus any type of Dhinka Chika.
Edited by arnav_addict - 11 years ago
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