Part 3
Sham Manohar Jha was so happy yesterday that his Chutki was finally married to his one and only Saale Shaab. His mom had raised Khushi who he called Chutki like her own daughter after the frightful demise of her husband along with her brother and his wife in a car accident a 12 years back. Shyam and his mom left no stones unturned to bring happiness to Khushi life. Having her marry Shyam's very own brother-in-law should have ensured a few things. One being she would remain under his nose always and that he could be only a heartbeat away. Also he knew how meddling his wife Anjali was and knew she would ensure that Khushi would have a blissful married life. But boy was he wrong.
It all change late last night shortly after his wife returned home from Shantivaan where she did the GhraPravesh( welcoming ritual of the bride and groom into the groom's home). They received a call from Chutki.
"Bhaiya, I am all alone. He left me" his sister cried into the phone.
Shyam along with Madhumati and Anjali rushed to Shantivaan to find a broken Khushi sitting on the floor in her new room.
"Chutki, what happened?" He asked try to stay as clam as he could while he crouched next to his crying sister.
"After Bhabhi left, he packed up and left" she said in between her cries.
Shyam had no idea how he manage to get Chutki to come back home with them. There was no way he would even dream of leaving her alone in Shantivaan. They had gotten her to settle down and get some sleep. But that night no one slept.
"Sunye" Anjali said softly as she sat at the foot of Khushi's bed next to Shyam as she wrapped her arm around her husband.
"Ji, Ranishaiba kahiye" (Yes, your highness do say) he answered back and lowered his head to rest on her shoulder.
"Shyam it all my fault. I'll go straighten it out. I'll talk to Chote" she said caressing his hair.
"No Ranishiba, don't say that. I am as equally responsible as you are. If you go talk to him you will talk to him as his sister. This time ek bhen ka Bhai baat karne jayenga" (this time a sisters brother will talk to him)
The very next morning Shyam marched in to AR Designs head office to find his brother-in-law. He knew where ever Arnav was he was sure to report to AR bright and early.
"Hi jiju" he welcomed Shyam to come in to his office and called the peon to bring two cups of coffee. Shyam just kept looking at Arnav without saying anything to the man who sat in front on him.
"Jiju have ur coffee. It's getting cold" Arnav stated when Shyam had not budged even after the peon had came back with the coffee. "So what brings you here?" He asked small after a taking a small gulp of his coffee.
Shyam who up until now hadn't said anything snapped upon hearing Arnav's cool as a cucumber attitude. "How could you do that to my Choti. She didn't deserve being left alone like that"
"Well in that case she has you and Di to thank for that. Both of your meddling ways. Couldn't let me live in peace. Plus I am sure she didn't get herself involved with out knowing. Must be thinking that she finally was able to get ASR to be her puppet."
"Stop blaming everyone but yourself, Arnav" shouted Shyam "No one pulled a gun to your head and made you get married"
Arnav fiddled with his iPhone not willing to look at his brother-in-law. Finally his shatirdimag (smart mind) came up with an idea. He looked up at Shyam and quietly said. "Fine, send your sister back to Shantivaan I will treat her as my wife but then I want nothing to do with you and Di. Is that fine Mr. Jha?"
It took every ounce of his inner strength for Shyam to not throw the remains of his coffee cup and show Arnav what was ok. He quietly stood up and as he was walking out of Arnav's office he said. "This brother is still capable of taking care of his sister and don't you worry I won't repay you the same favor by sending Anjali back. Unlike you I still respect this bond of marriage"
Shyam walked dejected into Jha mansion unsure how to convey to Anjali how his talk went with Arnav. But the commotion inside his home left him stunned. There was Khushi running around the dinning table chasing Aditi. Who was running away with a batch of jalebis. "Bua, these are mine now. You had you fill" Aditi giggled at Khushi while she continued running around.
"Aditi, give these back to me. I promise I will have a new fresh batch made for you when you return from school" Khushi said as she stopped chasing Aditi to catch her breath.
"Paka Bua?"(for sure, aunt?) Aditi asked as she also stopped running. "You better not go back to your home before I came back from school" she huffed.
The colors in Khushi face drained and she look around to her Bhabhi who had stopped serving Veer his breakfast to say "Aditi, have your breakfast, your Bua said she will make you a fresh batch for you after school."
"Ok mom" Aditi said as she sat next to her twin brother. "Waise, we should start calling you mamiji right Bua?" She nudge her brother who paid no heed and continued the last bit of his breakfast.
"No, why should we change our way for something that only happened yesterday.I am your Bua for how many years?" Khushi said as she tried to act brave.
Shyam quickly wiped his tears and sat down at the dining table with a fake plastered smile on his face and said "Chutki is always right. But why does my house look like a mistaan bhandar. All these jalebis are sure to give one diabetes" just as he said that he bit his tongue when Anjali gave him a state for mentioning the word diabetes. But luckily no further damage had been done.
Aditi got up from the table after completing her breakfast and told her dad "You need not worry Bua and I will indulge to our hearts fill with these jalebis. And if one is left then we will give the privilege to Veer, mom and Dadi, but none to you." She grabbed Veer's hand and rushed out to the awaiting school bus.
Shyam sighed and was glad that the inhabitants at Jha mansion were able to forget that nothing out of the norm had transpired yesterday. But that was only at the surface. Each member of his house kept quiet for the others sake.
A few days had passed when Khushi approached Shyam "Bhai, I know you wouldn't want me to go back to the states and staying at home I am getting bored. I want to start working. I am qualified and what good is this degree anyways"
Shyam lifted Khushi face and looked into her eyes. "Chutki, you need not work. Your Bhai is here na?"
Khushi explained to Shyam that she needed something to occupy her empty mind. He finally agreed and later that day asked her to go to an address he text for her job interview.
In a few hours after completing a few rounds of interviews Khushi was let to her final round of interview with the CEO.
There she was sitting in the lions den nervous as a prey would be sitting in front of the said lion. The interviewer looked down at her CV and then looked at her and told her how impressed he was to find an identical CV to his very own from his graduation day.
"I can assure you that everything on the CV is 100% accurate" she try to assure him.
"Well Ms. Khushi Gupta welcome to the AR Design team as a junior designer" he smiled and extended his hand for a handshake.
"You won't be disappointed Mr. Raizada" she said as she competed their handshake and walked out to gather contract and accommodation package.
-end of part 3
Thanks,
Misha
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Bigg Boss 19
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Anupamaa
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