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FF : Shattered Dreams
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/2038441/ff-shattered-dreams-link-2-thread-2-updated
RECAP
"Yes you are right. I loved Shyam, still love Shyam & will always love Shyam. You mean nothing to me. I just don't care whether you live or die just as you don't care if I am alive or dead"
Chapter 26
"Make Love to me Arnav" Kushi whispered.
"Make my fear go away. Make my pain go away."
PRECAP
"I killed my mom Arnav. Kill me Arnav & set me free"
OS : It's the way you make me feel
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/2164559/os-its-the-way-you-make-me-feel
OS : A shoulder to lean on
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/2308861/os-a-shoulder-to-lean-on
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/2324649/os-at-peace
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OS : Cocktail Series ' You are not invited
"And who said you are invited. I dint even invite you"
He smirked & walked away. Before leaving the room he turned to have one look at her porcelain face & saw her looking, looking'
He was not very sure since there was a myriad expression rippling across her delicate features.
He could see anger, annoyance, disappointment & hurt all flit across her face & he regretted his verbal barb. He had not even wanted to taunt her. He was just fooling around, trying to pull her leg but once again he had erred & ended up hurting her. She always seemed to take his words more to her heart than others.
He turned & was about to retrace his steps, stand beside her & reassure her but someone else beat him in the race.
"Hey Kushi why so sad. Like the Joker said Why so serious, let's put a smile on that face. "
"Joker as in clown in a circus"
"No Kushi that's a famous dialogue from the famous movie Dark Knight"
"Oh sorry NKji I am not v good in English so obviously I don't watch English movies"
"Oh no worries. Let's make a deal."
"Deal?" Hey Devi Maiyya looks like business, deals & contracts run in their blood & vein. Whats with the Raizadas & deals. That LAAD GOVERNOR was referring to Akashji & Payalji's marriage as a deal. She was fuming inwardly.
"Hey Kushi, you are lost again. So as I was saying lets strike a deal. You teach me Hindi & I will teach you English. Let's shake on it!"
"Shake? you mean you want me to dance"
"Oops looks like I ve to start the lesson from this minute. Let's shake on it is a phrase which means we have agreed to the deal & hence we can shake hands."
Saying this NK extended his hand. Kushi shook his hands heartily. She really liked NK. He seemed to be a warm, friendly person. Though Akashji & Anjali Di were also very affectionate towards her somehow she felt more at ease with NK. He seemed to share her wavelength. Especially after he had confessed about gobbling chocolates when he was depressed she really felt he was her soul buddy.
"Since you are feeling a little down let's make jalebis. You were saying a few minutes back that when you were worried you usually made jalebis."
Arnav rolled his eyes.
"Come on NK without getting the go-ahead she usually runs through the entire month's ration by making tons of jalebis. Now that you have actually encouraged her we might have to call up major Retail marts for further fortification. I don't want to come home to be welcomed by A Mt Everest of jalebis piled up in the living room".
Kushi scowled at him. Did he ever take a break from taunting, baiting & insulting her.
"Come on Chote, get off Kushi's back, Why do you always fight with her."
He rolled his eyes again.
"Come on Di. I was not fighting, just stating facts. Remember the last time in RM during your anniversary, she was worried & she made a cartload of jalebis which fed the entire mob who had landed here for the party. We don't even have such a huge crowd here today. Who will eat all those sweets."
"Oh come on NANAV"
"And for the last time I am warning you STOP calling me that before I smack you"
"Oh come on NANAV I am the only one who has a cute nickname for you & has the courage to call you by that to your face. It's my sole right. Who else has the audacity or the spunk to give you a nickname & call you by that."
Arnav flushed & darted a look at Kushi who blushed & was staring at the floor.
"SHUT UP"
"Actually NK just ignore Chote I think he is annoyed because we are not making his favourite sweet."
Kushi couldn't believe her ears. LAAD GOVERNOR actually has a favourite sweet. She thought that he had grown up gobbling gallons of karela & hence all this bitterness.
"Oh Di NANAV eats sweets. I dint know that. That's news to me."
"Oh that's our little secret. Mom used to prepare it just for him."
"ENOUGH Di."
"Arrey Chote I was just'." Anjali's voice trailed off when she saw the expression on Arnav's face. Inadvertently she had reminded him again of their painful past & all those memories must have flooded back to him. She became silent & Arnav quickly left the room but Kushi had still managed to catch the expression of pain & angst on his face. It hurt her seeing him like that. She even forgot her annoyance with him for taunting her about the cocktail party.
"Di what was that."
Anjali sighed.
"Oh NK I shouldn't have reminded Chote of mom. He will be very grim & sullen the whole day now. Actually chote never used to like sweets unlike me. But there was one dish which mom used to prepare just for him & he used to love it. In fact mom used to offer it as Prasad whenever she performed a pooja & chote used to love it. The way mom used to prepare it lovingly for him, offer it as Prasad & then make him eat. Somehow I feel that's one more reason why chote shrinks away from pooja & religious rituals. I guess it reminds him of mom & her love & her sweet."
Anjali couldn't continue more & she sat heavily on a chair. Kushi felt a lump in her throat.
"Di are you ok?"
"I am fine NK. Just that when I think of mom & then chote's unsaid pain I feel very helpless. I just wish I could alleviate his pain caused by the loss of mom & her love but sometimes I feel helpless. Chote just shields himself behind this wall of forced indifference & grumpiness." Her eyes became misty & even NK got caught up by her sorrow.
"Di please don't worry. Nanav will be fine. Mark my words one day he will find a girl who will make him happy & ease his pain."
"I hope so NK."
NK saw that the festive atmosphere had suddenly become somber due to all this foray into their tragic past & he wanted to lighten the mood.
"So Di what's this special sweet that Nanav likes."
"Modak. Chote likes it because it isn't oily & it's not too sweet. Also the way mom used to prepare it, the taste used to be heavenly."
Anjali sighed.
"I have never managed to master that one though I can prepare all other sweets well. Somehow I could never capture the magic present in mom's hands & her delicious Modak".
"Anyway I better get going. I had planned for a pooja for your jiju & I have loads to do before the pandit arrives"
NK turned to find Kushi lost deep in her thoughts.
"A penny for you"
"JI?"
"You are too lost in your world these days Kushi. Wazzup? Not going to prepare those jalebis that you promised me?"
"Ji sure but just a minute I need to ask Hari Prakash ji something."
"Ok I ll wait for you in the kitchen. I want you to teach me how to fry jalebis"
After 5 minutes he saw Kushi entering the kitchen along with HP.
"Kushiji it's in that big bottle up there right beside the stove."
Kushi thanked him & started her preparations.
Soon the smell of freshly fried jalebis wafted through the house & Anjali smiled inwardly. Kushi & NK seemed to be getting along like a house on fire. After Payal-Akash could this also'. She shook her head. No point in rushing things. She decided to wait & watch the progress before discussing with Nani.
Arnav was restless in his room. He was already worried because he had hurt Kushi & all that speech by Di about his sweet had just increased his restlessness manifold. He remembered his mom, her laugh, her comforting voice telling him that she is busy in the kitchen preparing his favourite sweet, him sulking, his mom laughing & ruffling his hair affectionately. His eyes became misty. No he had vowed that he would not remember the past. But the ghosts of the past always had a knack of coming back & haunting his thoughts.
Today even his plants couldn't put his mind at peace. He came down to the living room to be welcomed by the smell of jalebis in the kitchen punctuated by the constant jabbering of Kushi & NK.
He smiled gently. Kushi & NK what a team. He actually liked NK though he never acknowledged that even to Di. He pretended to be annoyed by him though inwardly he smiled at all his goofy antics. Both Kushi & NK were original museum pieces. He smiled again.
"But Kushi what's this other stuff that you are preparing. It seems to be different from the jalebi dough."
Kushi was oddly flustered by this question.
"Come on NKji you are not concentrating. If you don't hold the cloth cone properly you might spill stuff on yourself. WATCH OUT"
"Arrgggh. I dropped it on myself" NK screamed.
"Hey Devi Maiyya did you burn yourself."
"Thankfully NO. I will just go & wash all this stuff off."
Arnav rolled his eyes on overhearing all this high octane drama. He saw NK with a smattering of dough all over him rushing to his room & thought this was the best time to speak to Kushi alone.
He entered the Kitchen which resembled a battlefield. Kushi was in the middle of all this royal mess trying to do so many things all at one time.
"Will you give it a rest"
Kushi jumped slightly on hearing his voice & then decided to just ignore him since she was sure he was here to rag her again.
"Kushi"
When she dint answer he came close to her, pulled her gently away from the stove & made her turn towards him.
"Look I was just joking about that invitation to the party."
"You clearly said that I was NOT invited."
"Now when your parents are frantically making all the arrangements for Payal's marriage will you fight with them for NOT inviting you to your own JIJI's wedding or will you run around trying to help them?"
"But that's my parents & you are''.". She trailed off.
"I AM?????" whispered Arnav questioningly.
Kushi gulped nervously & was steadfastly avoiding his glance.
"I repeat Kushi I dint INVITE you" he whispered emphasizing the word INVITE.
"Because I thought YOU don't require an invitation from ME. After all it's a private party thrown by ME."
Kushi slowed looked up into his eyes.
"Do you still want me to INVITE you?"
"No" she whispered.
"Hey Nanav what are YOU doing in the kitchen. Still fighting with poor Kushi about the party."
Both of them jumped startled by NK's voice. They had slipped into a blissful world of their own & had forgotten their surroundings for a few minutes.
Arnav looked away & left the kitchen after throwing a dark look at NK for his insolence.
"Yeh Nanav bhi na. Him & his anger. Uff'' So Kushi are you or are you not coming to the party. Just forget whatever Nanav told you & come to the party."
"I will not forget what Arnavji said." Kushi replied in a dazed tone.
"So you are NOT coming". NK pouted in a disappointed manner. He was really looking forward to have fun along with Kushi.
"No I AM coming."
NK turned in surprise to see Kushi sporting a loving smile on her face. She suddenly looked radiant & NK smiled in reply because her smile was simply irresistible.
Arnav who overheard their conversation smiled.
"Kushi" he said & his voice was husky as if the word was a caress.
To be continued''
PRECAP
He looked at the covered bowl & was confused. He opened it & was flabbergasted.
"WT*"
Link to the next chapter in the series is given below:
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/2589804/os-cocktail-party-series-love-a-little
Link to the next chapter in the series is given below:
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/iss-pyaar-ko-kya-naam-doon/2589804/os-cocktail-party-series-love-a-little
Bigg Boss 19
Ganesh Kartikeya
2