Chapter 9
Arnav aimed at the target and rolled the bowling ball. Akash watched as the ball rolled and knocked down the ten pins at the other end of the lane while the board roared "Strike"
"Unbelievable! It's over. You won the game?"
"I guess, I did."
"Holy Sh*t! That's impossible. That was a four bagger."
"Hambone"
"Show off. Why did you react as if you don't know how a bowling ball looked like when I dragged you here?"
"A little surprise was in order, I think." Arnav checked his wrist watch and asked, "Will they have finished the purchase?"
"Are you kidding? There are three women in there, shopping for jewelry. And it is only one hour since we left them there. I am feeling hungry Nannav. Let us go, grab a bite."
"But we are going out for dinner."
"That's two hours away. I am famished."
Arnav rolled his eyes and allowed himself to be led to less crowded coffee shop in the mall while Anjali, Manorama and Devyani were at a jeweler at a different part of the mall.
The brothers chose a silent corner. As Akash went to place the order, Arnav kept looking at his retreating form. Keeping up the promise he had made to himself, Arnav had tried really hard to bring back some semblance in their strained relationship. The past one month had brought a whiff of fresh air to the Raizadas who were elated to find Arnav taking baby steps towards re-establishing his camaraderie with Akash, who, in turn, acknowledged his brother's efforts in his own way by spending more time with the family and cutting down on the parties. After all, the one reason he was claiming to have driven him towards the changed lifestyle was no longer holding valid.
"So, Nannav! Have you made any progress?" Akash came back with coffee and snacks for them.
"You were gone for too long?"
"I went to the adjacent store till the order got ready. And you haven't answered my question."
"Progress with what?" Arnav asked sipping his coffee.
Akash bit into a sandwich as he spoke, "Its not what? Its who. Khushi, obviously"
Arnav choked on his coffee and recovered quickly to school his face before throwing a "What's with Khushi?" with as much non-chalance as possible.
"Nice try. But not working. Are you going to spend the rest of your life sending longing glances in her direction and buying her music albums?"
Arnav leaned back in his chair and let out a sigh of frustration.
"I am not having this discussion with you."
Akash brought a look of disappointment to his face with great difficulty and modulated his voice, "Fine, here I thought you have again started to think of me as, well, oh! Let's go. The ladies must be looking for us" and got up from his seat defeatedly.
Arnav crossed his arms across his chest and narrowed his eyes at Akash. "I know you too well to read into your drama, Akki."
Akash's embarrassment at being caught was wiped off by the long forgotten endearment from his brother and a beautiful smile graced his face that soon caught up with Arnav. He too rose from his seat and both the brothers exited the coffee shop while continuing the conversation.
"Khushi is just a friend."
"Of course, a friend, for whom, you took time out from the back breaking hectic schedule in London and did some resource collection and book hunting, who calls you in the middle of the night to thank you for a book, who happens to be present when you go to SPARC for discussion about the project, who comes to AR with her brother and spends time with you instead until her brother supervises the progress of design studio. Friend indeed. So what next?"
Arnav collected his thoughts before he could answer Akash. The fund raiser was a night of revelation for Arnav, not only about Khushi but about himself. He accepted in his heart that he had fallen hard for her. He wished to explore his feelings for her, only he didn't know how. His rough start with her was still weighing so heavily on his heart that he was apprehensive of adopting any direct approach. Unfortunately, Khushi's physical limitation, required him to be vocal with her, a capability he seemed to have lost, long ago. He had met her subsequently at SPARC on the pretext of meeting her father in connection with the residential school project. She had dropped in at his work place more than once accompanying Shyam during his visits to oversee Anjali's design studio. It was quite easy to strike a friendly banter with her and Khushi was at ease to speak about her family, Payal, SPARC and music. Over a few visits from either of them, they had fallen into an easy friendship. But Arnav's trusted instincts warned him that this would come to an end if he were to try anything more than friendship with her. It was evident that Khushi did not know a world outside her family and Payal and there were many layers to her personality that were driven and defined by the accident and the subsequent loss of vision. And Arnav knew that he had to tread carefully with her to gain her trust before progressing towards initiating a relationship with her confidently. Akash's question was something which he might have asked himself countless times, what next?
"Okay, don't answer that, I think I know. But how long can you keep inventing some excuse or the other only to meet her among too many people? Its high time you think of places other than SPARC, your office, their home and not amidst an ocean of people. And please don't give me the we are just friends line Nannav. I too know you too well to know what you feel about her"
Arnav sighed resignedly. "I have no idea how she will react and I don't want to risk the friendship. Asking her out seems to be impossible at the moment."
"Tell that after seeing this." Akash handed him an envelope and took out his ringing phone from his pocket. "Yes Di! We are right here."
Arnav looked at the contents of the envelope and smiled at his brother's retreating back. The roles had reversed indeed and how!!
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"The project is running according to schedule, Shyam. I am quite impressed with NK. I will admit that I was a little apprehensive when you wanted him to take charge of the project. But the boy is splendid. You have groomed him well, son."
Shashi and Shyam were returning from Noida after paying a visit to the mall project that NK was supervising.
"I have given him what I have learnt from you Dad. I have more plans for him, Dad. I will discuss with you when the time is right."
"Sure. What is happening with Mr. Sethi?"
Shyam's mobile rang indicating an incoming call. He looked at the name flashing on his screen. He silenced the call and answered his father. "I am working on the proposal. Once it is ready, we are good to go ahead. Next week, positively."
"Good". Shyam's mobile received a message. Shyam read the message but didn't reply. Their further conversation was interrupted twice by incoming message alert on Shyam's mobile.
"Why don't you return the call or reply the message?"
"Its okay Dad, nothing urgent. So I was saying..."
Shyam's mobile rang again. This time he answered the call.
"Hi! Anything urgent?"
" "
"Almost nearing Delhi. Why? And why are you panicking?"
" "
"Oh I see! No. Don't worry. We are safe."
" "
"Mmm. Good that you called Payal and not Khushi. We are almost reaching SPARC."
" "
"Yes. I will call you later. Bye"
As Shyam hung up, he prepared himself for the inevitable series of questions.
"What's the matter? Who was that?" Shashi enquired.
"It was Anjali. The news channels are flashing about an accident that has taken place near Noida. So she called to ask if we are fine."
"Hmm. You should have picked up her call. Poor girl. You made her anxious unnecessarily."
"I have reassured her, dad."
"Okay. We are here. We can leave immediately if Chutki is ready."
"I will see if she is ready. Do you want to come in?"
"No Son, I have to answer some mails, I will finish them. You go ahead."
As an after-thought Shashi added, "Although I wonder how Anjali knew that we went to Noida today" He watched with satisfaction the dumbfounded expression on his son's face and waved him to proceed inside while he opened his mail box on his mobile. Shyam hesitated for a few moments before turning around to go inside the premises of SPARC leaving behind his highly amused father.
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Khushi sat in her room in SPARC, mulling over the telephonic conversation she had a while ago. The past one month filled her mind with mixed feelings. She didn't realize how and when had Arnav become a constant presence in her life. A few phone calls now and surprise visits to SPARC then, she had fallen into a comfortable friendship with him. Arnav did not miss any opportunity to show that he cared for her and valued her. He never met her empty handed. He always got her music CDs, mostly violin recitals of different musical forms, Hindustani, south Indian classical, western, fusion and encouraged her to try some of the pieces that impressed her on her instrument. While she looked forward to his phone calls and visits, she chose to ignore the strange feeling that erupted in the pit of her stomach whenever he held her hand or caught her by her elbow to lead her to nearby chair in his office or SPARC. She decided that the unsettling feeling was due to her lack of exposure to a man's touch and she would get used to it. But no amount of self-assurance could help her get over the sudden feeling of restlessness that had crept in her mind ever since he called an hour back. What was he thinking when he asked what he did? What should I tell him? How will I bring this up with Bhaiyya and Papa?
"Chutki! Are you ready? Shall we leave?"
Khushi was visibly startled at the sudden unexpected intrusion and stood up jerkily tripping on her own shoes. Shyam rushed to steady her surprised by her reaction to his entry, something very unusual of his sister.
"What's wrong Chutki?"
"Nothing Bhaiyya. Lets go"
"Wait. I will get your things."
Shyam gathered her belongings and phone when his fingers accidentally brought to life the call history on her mobile. The first name on the incoming call history took him by surprise.
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Anjali knocked on Arnav's door with a tray in her hand that had 3 glasses of milk. Of late, the siblings had started to spend this time together before they called it a day.
"How long will this go on Chote?"
She sighed watching her brother going about his daily routine.
Arnav smiled wearily "As long as it takes Di!"
Anjali ran a loving hand through his hair and laughed when he made faces at being treated like a kid and set his hair properly.
"Where is Akash?" Arnav asked shuffling through his old CD collection.
"He will come at any moment. What are you searching?"
"Khushi was mentioning that she was searching for Parveen Sultana's Maestro's choice. I remembered having a copy of it."
"Okay let me help you. Move aside." Arnav vacated his seat for Anjali and sat on the bed near her.
She asked "Shyam tells me that her eyes are perfectly normal. I have been thinking to know more about cortical blindness but didn't get a chance to, what with the summer collection round the corner"
"As Uncle would say, her blindness is not in her eyes but in her brain Di. It was a result of a severe impact of an accident she was involved in many years ago, on her brain. While most cortical blindness cases experience only temporary vision loss, she was one of those very few unfortunate patients who have suffered from prolonged loss of vision. While her condition is termed as legal blindness, she can recognize selective colors like orange and appreciate blurred images of moving objects" Arnav explained remembering the unique pattern of paint on the walls of SPARC and her response to the dance programme during fund raiser.
"Oh I see. Is there no treatment to bring back her eye sight, chote?"
"Not yet, but clinical trials are in progress. There is a group in the US which is working on this condition. Their approach is based on brain stimulation."
"Like electric stimulation?"
"No no Di! I don't know the details yet, but it is something akin to visual stimulus."
"Hmm. I wish for positive outcome from the trial chote. God knows she deserves it."
Arnav hmmed when Akash strode in.
"Sorry sorry! Was on a call. Di what are you searching?"
"A CD. Got it chote. Here you go. Chote, are you going to SPARC tomorrow to give this to her?" Anjali asked with a tinge of amusement.
"No Di." He said, hesitated for a moment, exchanged a knowing look with Akash and then said, "I am planning to meet her this Saturday Di. Actually I asked her if she could accompany me to a ..."
Anjali stood up, her eyes wide in shock. She oscillated her looks between her two brothers and finally exclaimed aloud.
"When did it come to this?"
"Oh come on Di! You are reacting as if he has asked her out. It will take ten more years for Nannav to reach that stage."
Arnav glared at Akash who continued unaffected, "There is a violin concert Di, to which Nannav is taking Khushi and I got him the tickets from the music store yesterday" Akash tugged at his imaginary collars.
"She hasn't said yes, yet" Said Arnav
Anjali didn't react for some time and then asked softly. "Does Shyam know?"
Arnav threw a see-this-is-what-I-told-you' look at Akash.
"Di! I don't understand. Why should Shyam know and moreover it's not like a date or something. And we wouldn't expect you to tell us if you are seeing someone now, would we?"Akash asked.
"Its not the same" said Anjali and "Speak for yourself Akki" said Arnav sternly at the same time. Akash looked at the brother-sister duo for a moment before throwing his hands up in the air and sitting in the lounger.
Arnav made Anjali sit on the bed and sat beside her. He took her hands in his gently and said, "Di! I have left the choice to Khushi. I will accept whatever she decides. If she says yes, I will ask for Uncle's permission, okay?"
"Chote! I have known and hoped about your interest in Khushi. But I want you to be absolutely sure of where you are going with this. I can't have anything going wrong with her and I am talking about her emotional quotient here."
Arnav took a deep breathe before speaking. "Di, I am exploring my new found feelings for her. I will give my word to you Di, I will never lead her into any decision which is not hers too. The nature and course of our relationship will be according to her comfort."
"I trust you chote, please always remember this."
"That is interesting. Di, care to tell us why this over protectiveness for Khushi, making your own brother look like a shaitaan in pursuit of Sundari?"
"Shut up Akki"
"I will Nannav, when I have had my answer. I am a brother too, who is particularly very worried about his only sister's welfare. Di, what are we missing here?"
Arnav threw an angry glare on Akash and turned to Anjali who was wait! Blushing?
Anjali looked at her two brothers and said, "I am in a relationship"
She took a pause dramatically while Arnav and Akash looked at her with equal measure of attention and curiosity and she announced, "With Shyam."
Akash released a breathe he was holding and grinned, while Arnav blinked his eyes several times before saying, "Should I be angry or happy?"
Akash patted Arnav's shoulder and said, "You have all the reasons to be happy and absolutely none to be angry."
"What?"
"Happy, because, Shyam is that shant-suljhe hue-sanskaari damaad this family will look for Di and this, Nannav, will make your task easy" asserted Akash earning himself pillow blows from the siblings. Akash laughed freely before taking Anjali into a hug. Shortly Arnav too joined for a group hug and the siblings chatted for some more time while the glasses of milk lay completely forgotten.
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Shashi was reading a book in his room, like he always did before going to sleep, when he heard a knock on his door. He didn't have to look up to know that it was his son and he also knew the reason why he was here. Shyam slowly walked to his side and popped himself on a pillow besides his father. Shashi smiled at his son and removed his reading glasses before running his hand over Shyam's head.
"Can't sleep?"
"Dad, I want to tell you something."
"I am listening."
"After Sheetal, I decided I would never risk getting into a relationship again." Shyam paused and looked up at his father
Shashi nodded his head gesturing him to go ahead.
Shyam continued, "But that was until I met Anjali."
Shyam sat up and looked at his father and said, "I like her and have been seeing her for a month now. I thought you should know."
Shashi rose from his bed and came to stand in front of a huge portrait of his wife. After several moments, he said, "What happened with Sheetal was very unfortunate Shyam. But in a way it was a blessing. Just imagine what would have happened had you married her." He turned around and continued, "But with Anjali, I am confident. I trust both of you to take wise decisions about your lives and hope that you both find what I could with your mother."
Shyam too came to stand with his father. Shashi put his arms around his sons shoulder and said, "Give me a reason to rejoice soon, son. I am becoming old. You are one responsibility I would want to complete before I can join your mother. I don't really worry about Khushi since she will have you."
"Dad please don't talk like that. After mom, if I didn't go astray, it was because of your selfless love and sacrifices."
Shashi turned to his son and said, "And you have been exactly that for Khushi. And I would also want to remind you that one aspect of mine that you have enjoyed with me, which you should have when it comes Khushi."
When Shyam didn't understand what Shashi was trying to say, Shashi smiled and continued, "You have to be as understanding with her as I was and am with you. Shyam, she is your kid sister, no doubt, but she has grown into a beautiful, talented woman. We have cocooned her in the warmth of our home, love and affection, but we should also allow her to metamorphose naturally and explore the various aspects of life and that includes love."
They heard a knock and it was Khushi. Shyam led her inside the room and all of them sat on the bed.
"Bhaiyya, I thought you slept? Good that you are also here."
"You wanted to talk about something, chutki?"
"Yes papa. There is a violin fusion concert by Prof. L.Subramaniam this Saturday evening. I was wondering if I could go."
"Of course, you should go, if you want to, beta. But...I wouldn't be able to come. I don't know about Shyam, you can ask Payal and NK"
"But Papa, there are only two tickets."
Shashi turned to his daughter surprised.
"Oh! You have the tickets."
Shyam couldn't help but remember the name on Khushi's call history. His anxiety slowly increased. A hidden restlessness in Khushi's demeanor didn't slip Shashi's notice.
"Yes, papa"
"Okay, so Shyam are you free on Saturday?" Shashi asked his son, nodding his head in the negative. Shyam picked the hint and not knowing where his father was going with this, said, "No Dad, I have to attend a business party." His eyes never leaving his sister.
"Oh! Then check with Payal and NK, chutki, one of them would be available. Worst comes, I will ask Jiji to come. Yeah, she can't sit for a long time, but..."
"Papa"
"Yes beta!"
"Papa. I wanted to tell you and bhaiyya that ...that Arnav, I mean, he got the tickets. He asks if ...if I could go with him."
Shyam didn't move a muscle and followed the conversation without interrupting, suddenly very apprehensive about the direction in which it was progressing, like most parents, who had completely different set of rules when it came to their kids, conveniently forgetting what they do or did with their lives. And Shyam, like most elder brothers, considered himself his sister's second father. Shashi glanced at Shyam once before running a hand on Khushi's head and asked, "What do you want to do, chutki?"
Khushi took a deep breathe and said, "I ... I want...to go with him Papa."
Anupamaa
10