Posted:
Heyyy guys...posting an OS for monday episode...no hopes of any of it happening but would love to see it nevertheless...do read it...
Raizada House:
By dinner, Arnav was pretty sure that Khushi had taken his talk about not wanting to see her on 31st night pretty seriously. In the morning, payal and buaji had come for practice without Khushi. When Anjali asked Payal about Khushi, Payal had said that she was very tired probably due to all the dancing the previous day and just wanted to rest for the day.Arnav had seen through the lie perfectly well...hell..even payal looked so doubtful about it. Khushi...not well...that part was convincing...but because of dancing??...nah...she may look delicate but everyone knew how full of energy she is and that energy is not drained away so easily.
He had come down once or twice in the day in hopes of seeing her twirl with his good for nothing ungrateful flirtatious cousin who hadnt even thanked him for letting him dance with Khushi, but all he saw was Akash-Payal dancing graciously,Buaji-Naani-Madhubala arguing on some step or his sister and brother-in-law dancing quietly,or not-so-cool NK goofing around and moving with an imaginary Khushi which filled him with anger for no good reason. What was wrong with him??He couldnt even see NK dancing with an imaginary Khushi. Now he felt ridiculous!
A splendid dinner had been prepared by his di especially for the 31st night and all his favorite dishes were within his reach but instead there he was thinking about Khushi. He ate dinner absen-mindedly while the rest of the family was laughing and talking about how great the year had been and how they wanted the next year tobe equally good. He thanked his di for the dinner and went upstairs and saw that his bedroom clock showed that it was 11:00 pm...hmm...just an hour to go.Even though he didnt believe in all the astrology stuff he,wondered what would happen if he didnt see anyone before midnight?Would they end up alone as he believed would be his case since lavanya left?He went to the balcony to look up at the stars and his plants.
Just then,he heard a knock on his door."Come in",he said.Akash entered and he looked like he was dressed to go somewhere and he also looked very nervous. So he asked," Akash kya baat hain?Are u fine?Payal ke saath koi argument hui?". Akash replied quickly,"Nahi bhai, aisa kuch nahi hua hain.Woh actually baat yeh hain ki aapko yaad hain na NK bhai ne kya kaha tha, woh new year eve ke baarein mein?Ki jis insaam ko aap saal ke aakhri pal mein dekhto ho unke saath aap aapki puri zindagi bitaoge?Toh mujhe Payalji se aaj raatko milna tha...toh mein soch raha tha ki agar aap mujhe support karne ke liye mere saath unke ghar chalenge??
Arnav heard the whole thing with only one word etched clearly on his face "UNBELIEVABLE". He said,"Akash yeh sab faltu ki cheezein hoti hain...aisi cheezon mein vishwaas na karna hi accha rehta hain...it is all crap...yeh sab logon ko kuch kaam nahi hota hain...isliye yeh sab article aur horoscopes publish karte hain".When Akash was about to retort, Arnav said, " Ab for example, agar aaj ratko maine tumhe hain dekha 12 baje,toh iska matlab yeh thodi hua ke tum apni puri zindagi mere saath bitane wale ho??". Seeing the horrified expression on Akash's face, he quickly said,"Besides, you are getting married to her, toh waise bhi tumhe tumhari puri zindagi uske saath hi bitani hain...tumhe chinta karne ki koi zarurat nahi hain!!".
Akash then said,"Par bhai,maine Payalji ko aaj promise kiya tha ki main unhe aaj milne aaonga...please Bhai ek aakhri baar meri help kardo...agar mein nahi gaya toh Payalji naraaz ho jayegi aur agar mein akele gaya aur buaji ne dekh liya toh,meri khair nahi hain...so please?".
Arnav thought for a while and then realized that he was fighting a losing battle and Akash was going to convince him anyhow. So he agreed to go with him and said."Ek shart hain...drive ,mein karunga".
They had left at around 11:40pm and they reached their house at around 11:50pm. Payal was standing at their balcony as if waiting for Akash and was overjoyed to see them. No sooner had the car stopped than he was out of his seat to meet his "beloved". He waited in the car resting his head on the seat knowing that Akash was going to take his time and also that "she" be somewhere around. He opened the car window to let the cool breeze in when he felt the same old change in the breeze whenever she was around. His eyes opened unvoluntarily and there she was in her night pajamas sitting with her hair open on the steps of her house looking up at the stars with a cup of tea in her hand trying to warm herself and at the same time eavesdropping on her sister's conversation and smiling like a child at their every sentence. Suddenly smile wavered,as ifshe felt the change in breeze too and she started looking left and right and her eyes finally came to rest on the open car window where Arnav was staring at her too unblinkedly. Arnav glanced at his watch...it was 23:59pm and then it was 12:00. He flashed the watch at her as if to show her the time with an expression that said "Im never wrong". Her eyes widened and worldlessly she went quickly inside knowing perfectly well what had happened and what it meant!!! In the meantime Arnav said quietly "The perfect way to start a new year...Happy New Year, Khushi Kumari Gupta".
Hope ull liked it...appreciation and criticism welcomed...thnk you for readin it...
Anupamaa
