FF: Caretaker ~ Thread 5 ~ Part 21 (21/08)

Caretaker

😛Wowieee Thread 5 😛

😳 I once again thank all my readers for liking and commenting on my FFs which has made me reach this far. 😛

Index

Thread 1

Thread 2

Thread 3

Part 18

This day was very important for both Arnav and Khushi. It was their engagement today. The ring ceremony was in the evening. Khushi was in her room , sitting on bed surrounded by the dresses and sarees she had got from the Raizada's as Shagun. Palak was playing on the bed.

Khushi: Palak now how is Maasi supposed to decide what to wear today evening? She has so many choices.

Palak gigled patting her toy on the bed thrice.

Khushi: Okay do one thing , just point a dress and I will wear that. Theek hai?

She moved all the dresses towards Palak who was too young to even know what she had to do. Khushi was disappointed .She wished her Jeeji was alive. Whenever she was confused in making a decision, her Jeeji had assisted her .And today she wanted her Jeeji's daughter to take that responsibilty. When Palak didnt help her and kept playing with her toy , Khushi felt disheartened.

"Pink", he said leaning at the door. Khushi turned around and so did Palak.

Khushi: Ji?

Arnav: Hmm. Pink is a nice and sober colour. Bahut suit karega.

He never complimented her so openly. SHe felt a bit uncomfortable when he started walking inside towards her.

Arnav: And infact Pink is a light version of Red which is my favourite. Iss se accha aaj raat ke liye kya hoga Miss Gupta? (What will be more better than this Miss Gupta?)

Khushi: We are still not even engaged and you have started to impose your favourite on me. Isnt that too early?

Arnav: Excuse me? When was I asking you to wear Pink? I was talking about Palak. Its her chachu's engagement tonight. She will wear something which her Chachu likes.

Khushi's jaw dtopped. So all this while he was just talking about what Palak should wear and not her ?That was ridiculous. A wide smirk appeared on his face as he saw Khushi's expressions and then picked Palak in arms.

Arnav: Does she have anything in Pink?

He purposely asked. Khushi opened the cupboard and took out some pink dresses of the baby. She displayed all on the bed .

Khushi: Choose whichever you like. But in the wedding , she will wear her Maasi's choice, not Chachu's.

Arnav shrugged his shoulders once.

Arnav: Kya faraq padta hai. On the wedding day this Maasi will permanently become her Chachi too. So be it chachu's choice or Chachi's, its one and the same.

Her jaw dropped again. Since when did he learn such tactics.? He was smart in his talks and no wonder he was such a successful businessman. She allowed Palak to be with him and concentrated back on her dresses.

Arnav started talking to Palak while choosing a cute pink frock for her.

Arnav: What is Palak gifting her Chachu and Maasi today?

Palak smiled and kissed his cheeks wrapping her arms around his neck. She was trying to talk something and her language was foreign for him. He just kissed her once and then saw Khushi.

Arnav: Want any help?

Khushi knew he was talking about her dress today evening.

Khushi: No Thanks. I will manage.

He sighed. Anjali entered the room with a bag.

Anjali: Khushiji. Here's the dress for today evening.

She handed the dress to her.

Khushi:One more? Anjaliji , you have already given me so many .

Anjali: But this one is special for tonight. It designed by Chotte's best designers for this occassion. So please dont deny.

Khushi had no choice. She opened the bag and saw a beautiful Pink Lehnga choli with silver border. It was really the best designed dress she was ever seeing. Arnav and Anjali shared a glance at each other. This was planned by Arnav and he knew khushi will never accept it heartily if he gives it to her. So he made his Di do it for him.

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Evening

The rings were exchanged. There wasnt even one moment where he didnt appreciate her beauty, but only to his heart. The right to praise her openly was still to be owned by him and even if he did, it was hard to make her accept those comments because she was a very reserved girl especially towards him. Palak was with Anjali all the time as the newly engaged couple were busy in taking the blessings and greetings from family and friends. Buaji was been introduced to Raizada's relatives by Nani. The family was very happy today that after so many attempts they could get these two agree for the relationship. The evening passed quickly and then came the night .Khushi had changed her dress. She was back into her Yellow Kurta and loose Pyjama sitting at the poolside with Nani and Palak.

Nani: You have given us the most beautiful gift today Khushi Bitiya. Thank you so much.

Khushi: Naniji please dont thank me, I am doing all this for Palak. I can do anything for her.

Nani: We know that. Palak is really very lucky to have a Maasi like you. I am sure a day would come when she will accept you as her mother too.

Khushi had tears in her eyes. She hugged Palak more tight in her embrace and kissed her forehead.

Khushi: I dont want to take the place of my Jeeji in Palak's life Nani. But if she calls me Maa someday, it will be the best day of my life.

Arnav and Anjali came there to know what conversation Nani and Khushi were having together so secretly. But when they heard Khushi's words , both of them were touched.

Nani: Chotte , next week is the marriage but what about the legal adoption work? When will it begin?

Arnav: Nani its already in progress.The paper work is almost done . Once me and Khushi marry and get the marriage certificate , no one can stop us from adopting Palak.

Anjali: This is really good news Chotte. We are waiting for that day desperately when Khushi and you will be Palak's parents from Caretakers.

Arnav just smiled weakly watching Palak who was trying to go in Khushi's arms. Nani was currently holding Palak and Khushi was too lost in her own thoughts to even notice Palak wishes to come to her. Suddenly when Palak didnt get Khushi's full attention, she tried to call her , extending her arms.

"Maa" she screamed looking at Khushi. Everyone were amazed when Palak used this word for the first time. None of them had ever taught her to use this word .It was so instant and surprising from her to call Khushi as "Maa" . A bright smile crept on Khushi's face as she looked at Palak from a distance. She rushed to Nani who was holding Palak and cupped the baby's face.

Khushi: Palak. what did you call me? Say it again baby.

Palak :Maa

She hopped in Khushi's arms without wasting much time and hugged her. Probably she was sleepy .Khushi's joy had no bars today .She was so much happy that Palak called her Maa. This was the best gift she could get from the baby on her engagement day. Anjali , Nani , Arnav, all were equally happy for her. She deserved to be called as her Maa because until now , not bothering of her own happiness, she had sacrificed everything for her sister's child .No one does it in the present world .But Khushi was that Angel who not only gave Palak the love of a mother but also the warmth that she always needed after the death of her real parents Payal and Akash.

Khushi kept kissing Palak's cheeks, chin, eyes, forehead , nose and lips because she wanted to shower all happiness to the baby for calling her as "Maa."

Khushi: Did you hear what she called me Nani ? She called me .. She called me Maa.

Khushi was not even able to express the words properly in this happiness. She hopped Palak in her arms once making her gigle and then moved to Nani.

Khushi: Nanaji, I am very happy today. Guess I wont be able to sleep tonight. She called me Maa?

Nani blessed her and Palak once again moved to Naniji playfully.

Khushi: Now very soon she will start calling all of us from our real designation.

SHe kissed Nani's cheeks too in happiness.

Khushi: She will call you Par nani ..!! (great grand mother)

She then moved to Anjali who was standing next to her and kissed Anjali's cheek too.

Khushi: She will call you Bua. (Aunt)

Khushi unknowingly moved towards Arnav, clutched his arms and quickly placed a warm kiss on his cheek too .

Khushi: She will call you Paapa Arnavji..

Her excitement had no limits today and she proved it by Kissing the great Arnav Singh Raizada before Palak, Nani and Anjali who were shocked witnessing this scene. Arnav was cold and if ever he felt the blood flowing , it was only on that part of his cheek where Miss Gupta kissed him just seconds back. Khushi pulled back from him and placed a hand on her mouth in nervosuness . She kissed him? How could she do this? It was so natural and instant that she didnt even get time to realise what just happened. Their eyes met. Arnav touched the portion of his cheek where her gloss was still glued to his skin and he loved the effect it created in his entire body. This was so new and refreshing. Lavanya had kissed him before but never a simple cheek kiss could give him so much of warmth and evoke such desires which he did at the present for Miss Gupta. If things had been normal between them, he would have pulled this girl back in arms and kiss hard on her lips because only that would ease off the flames of passion which were taking a toll inside his body.

Anjali and Nani looked at each other and happily chuckled seeing Khushi's innocence. But before they could make her feel better of this situation, she ran away from the poolside , unable to meet his eyes because just like him even she had started feeling butterflies in her stomach. No wonder she never had kissed anyone until today and definately not this hard. The roughness of his stuble was still lingering on her lips. His cologne was still engulfing her body misleading her thoughts. She rushed inside her bedroom and locked the door from inside. She leaned over the closed door, and moved her hand on her heart. It was beating frantically unlike before. Somethings were changing. The engagement with Arnav Singh Raizada did bring some change in their lives. First Palak called her "maa" and now she even took a step towards accepting this new relation which she had started with Arnav today. She kissed this man and just hoped that this Shyness doesnt last for long because if it does then it wont take time for Arnav Singh Raizada to read her heart which was mellowing down for him these days .

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