Arnav walked into Buaji's house. The door was open and there was no one in the living room. He looked around for Khushi. She was nowhere to be found. The TV was on, and was playing old Bollywood movie songs.
The smell of jalebis wafted on the air. Arnav smiled. Lucknow's Jalebi Rani was making jalebis for her sweet stall. He strode towards the kitchen on silent feet.
Hamein tumse pyaar kitna, yeh hum nahin jaante
Magar jee nahin sakte, tumhare bina…, Sanka Devi sang along with Kishore Kumar, looking at a jalebi she was holding up in the air, her eyes full of love.
Hamein tumse pyaar…
She kissed the jalebi, and then popped it in to her mouth.
Arnav had to bite his lip to stop his chuckles, helped by Kishore Kumar's doleful lament.
Humein intezaar kitna, yeh hum nahin jaaante
Magar jee nahin sakte, tumhare bina…
Sanka Devi sang along with him, turning jalebis that were dancing in the hot, bubbling oil.
Arnav continued,
Tumhein koi aur dekhe, toh jalta he dil
Badi mushkilon se phir sambhalta he dil…
Khushi dropped the slotted spoon in the oil, her eyes like saucers, her mouth open, standing as though petrified.
Kya kya jatan karte he, tumhe kya pata…
"Arnavji!" she squealed.
He walked towards her and switched off the stove.
Yeh dil bekarar kitna, yeh hum nahin jaante
Magar jee nahin sakte, tumhare bina…
He walked closer to her, making her walk backwards in to the cooking platform, his molten chocolate eyes on her wide ones.
Hamein tumse pyaar kitna yeh hum nahin jaante
Magar jee nahin sakte, tumhare bina… Kishore Kumar crooned.
Arnav cupped her face and pressed his eager lips on her sweet lips stained with jalebi syrup, pulling her into his arms, longing to make her warmth, innocence, and laughter a part of him. His fingers made their way in between hers, his engagement ring rubbing against hers.
A long time later, his lips left hers with great reluctance.
"Where are the others?" he asked softly.
"Temple." she whispered, pulling him closer.
"Your jalebis?" he asked, smiling.
"They will wait." she said.
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