Posted:
This OS is a continuation from yesterday's episode and inspired from a post made by a friend on Arshi's first date.
The Date (that could have been)
Under the pretext of using the washroom,Arnav slipped away from their table and settled the bill with the manager of the ristorante beforehand. He knew very well that his Jhalli Khushi would surely want a say in the payment of the bill. After coming back Arnav finds Khushi finishing off the Tiramisu she had ordered for the desert in her typical Khushi style, completely lost in the taste and blissfully unaware of her surroundings!
Arnav, "Hogaya ya ? Ya aur meetha chahiye ?"
Khushi getting little conscious, "Nahi, hume aur nahi khana", she said with a small smile.
Arnav ,with a happy smile on his face got up to pull the chair for her and said, "Let's go then".
Khushi while getting up replied, "Leking Arnavjii'. Humane toh bill nahi bharaa! Hum aise kaise jaa sakte hain?"
Without giving her a chance to protest Arnav put his arm around Khushi's shoulder and nudged her towards the exit. "I have already paid the bill. Don't worry!"
Khushi tagged along complaining, "Aree lekin bill toh hume bharana tha! Aapp ne kyo bharaa?"
Arnav put his finger on her lips, "No arguments. It doesn't matter who pays the bill, as long as we enjoyed the evening right? "
Khushi softened and nodded her head in affirmation. Together they walked out of the restaurant leaving behind an amused attending staff of the ristorante. They had some amusing stories about their clients, but this one would be the cherry on the cake!
While waiting for the valet to bring his car around the entrance, Aranv checked his wristwatch, it read 9.45 pm, mulling over something. Noticing his actions, Khushi placed a hand on his arm and asked, "Kyaa hua? Aap kyaa soch rahe ho?"
Arnav gave her smile saying, "Nothing, I was thinking if it is too late to go for a drive- Just the two of us!'.
Khushi gave him her 1000 V dazzling smile and said, "Lets go!".
Arnav, though extremely pleased with her eagerness, didn't want her to land any kind of trouble with her family, as she almost always did! "You sure Khushi? I mean Buaji and Aunty, won't they be upset if we are late?"
Khushi pulled out her mobile from her handbag and dialed Buaji's landline number. Arnav listened to Khushi's one-sided conversation, "Buaaji, hum bol rahe haine... wohh humane aapko yeh batane keliye fone kiya haine, ki hume ane maine thodi der ho jayegi. Nahi-nahi, chinta ki koie bat nahi haine. Sab thik haine. Hum Arnavji ke sath haine. Hannn Buajii!, Aap ko kya lagata haine? Aapke Damadajii hume ghar chodane nahi ajayengee? Hume itani rat akelie thode na jaane denge? Hann thik haine. Aamaa Babuji ko bhi bata dijyee, jee, hum rakhte hian. "
Khushi finished the call and turned towards Arnav, giving him a victorious smile, "Abb chinta ki koie bat nahi. Humane Buaji ko bata diya haine, ki hume aane maine deri hogi. Toh hum chale?"
Arnav, who had always loved this chirpy side of his wife, just flicked her nose with his index finger, "Pagal" and opened the door of the passenger seat and motioned her to get into the car. Arnav got into the driver's seat and started the car. He was paying attention on the road and in between was giving curious glances to his wife who was fiddling with the car radio, when suddenly the song "Teri Meri, meri teri prem kahani hain mushkil!" started playing! Both, looked into each others eyes and were immediately transported to the day of the sangeet, when things had changed their relationship forever. They had finally stopped playing the cat-n-mouse game and were forced to question their feelings about the other.
Khushi turned towards her Half-Husband and said with a mischievous smile, "Arnavji' hume aapse kuch puchana hain."
Arnav just nods his head in confirmation, indicating her to continue. "Lekin usase pehale aap ko vada karana padegaa, ki hum job hi aap se puchenge, aap usakaa bilkul sach-sach jawab denge."
Arnav turned towards her with a confused look, "What? You want a promise that I will tell the truth? That is very childish. Khushi, I always tell the truth."
Khushi, "Off hoo' toh vada karane maine kya problem haine?"
Arnav giving up, "OK FINE! I promise."
Khushi with a hint of amusement, "Toh hum aapse jana chahte haine, ki aap humase itana pyaar kyo karate ho?"
Arnav without showing any emotion, tried to sidestep the question,"What kind of a question is that?"
By this time, they had reached the hilltop and Arnav stopped the car at an isolated spot. In place of answering her question, he got out of the car and walked around to the passenger seat to open the door for her. Khushi complained, "Appne vada kiya tha, ki aap sach bologe! Jab tak aap humare sawal ka jawab nahi dete, hum gadi se nahi utarenge!"
Arnav being Arnav, removed Khushi's seat belt and forcefully but gently, pulled her out of the car. For all his efforts he an angry look from his wife, or half-wife , as she thinks! Finally giving up he just muttered, "I love you because you are cute in a weird sort of a way."
Khushi made her typical "O" facial expression and just frowned, looking away! Smiling to himself, Arnav gathered her in his arms and carried her to the front of the car. He gently placed her on the bonnet and placed both his hands on either side of her. He lifted his right hand to her face and gently removed the flicks, that had come loose in the light breeze of the night, away from her face and tucked them behind her ear.
Arnav looked into her beautiful eyes and sighed, very softly, he said, "So you want to know why I am in love with you?"
Khushi without a word just stared back innocently. Arnav leaned near Khushi inches apart, "I love you because you are a unique piece, one and only of your kind, the craziest person I have come across!"
Khushi pushed him back little hurt, "Aapko lagata haine hum pagal haine?"
Arnav controlling his laugher, "Pagal toh tum ho! But I love you for being so adorably pagal. I love you for your smile which is full of laughter. I love your eyes, so beautiful and expressive, they are a mirror to your soul. I love your hair, (getting little serious) I love you for being so strong, for standing up to me and making me realize how wrong I can be sometimes. I love you for loving me in spite of the hurt, the humiliation I caused you. Actually I should be asking you this question. Why do you love me despite everything I have put you through, but I won't! I am just glad that you do! But if you ever leave me, I feel that my heart will stop beating that I might d..."
Kushi covered his mouth with her palm almost scolding him, stopping him from completing the sentence, closing her eyes, she placed her forehead on his and whispered, "Aaisa mat boliye! Aapko kuch ho gayaa toh hum bhi jee nahi paayenge!"
Needing to reassure themselves of the other's presence, they both reach out for each other simultaneously, embracing as if they will never let go! Khushi slowly opens her eyes and suddenly sees a falling star. She pushes Arnav aside and jumps off from the bonnet. Arnav taken by surprise exclaims, "What the!"
Khushi, "What the, bad maine kijye, wo dekhiyee tootata tara. Jaldi se kuch mangiye'" saying so Khushi closed her eyes and smiled joined her hands, interlacing her fingers, she started with her wish list."
Arnav just looked at her in wonder, seeing her childish acts. Almost after 5 minutes Khushi opened her eyes with satisfied smile on her face and turned to Arnav. "Aap ne kya manga?" Khushi enquired.
Arnav in his usual curt tone, "I don't believe in wishing upon a star, Jo taara khud toot rahaa hain, woh mujhe kya dega ?"
Khushi ignored his comment, "Humne aapse kitni baar kahaa hain, ki baat sahi ya galat ki nahi, baat vishwas ki hain. Waise, koi baat nahi. Hume pataa tha aap nahi mange ge. Iss liye humne aapke liye bhi kuch maang liya."
Arnav, "Ohh really and how do you know what I want?"
Khushi, " Hume sab pata haine"
Aranv , "Ok' let's hear it."
Khushi, "Hum ne manga ki aap hamesha kamiyab aur khush rahe. Di aur unke hone waale bacche ki sehat acchi rahe aur woh jaldi hi apni nayee jindagi ki shuruwaat hasi khushi se kare! Unhe kabhi koi taklif na hoo. Babuji pehale jaise ghumane phirane lage aur unaki sehat jald-se-jald thik hojaye'. Jiji or Jijaji hamesh saath rahe. Buajii, Nani, Mamaji, Mamiji, Dadiji, sab khush rahe. Humari taraah, Nanheji ko bhi unka manchaaha saathi mile aur unki hindi thodi aur shudhar jaaye. HPji, OPji, JPji ki pagaar thodi badh jaaye aur Laxmiji ki bhi god jaldi se bhar jaaye! Hum sab miljul kar ek parivar ki tarah rahe! Bas, itna hi." Khushi finished with a happy clap.
Arnav was speechless. In her wish list, she didn't ask anything for herself. Khushi saw Arnav giving her the 'Are-you-for-real-look" and was confused, "Kya huaa' aap aise kyu dekh rahe haine ho?"
Arnav, " You didn't ask anything for yourself."
Khushi gave her innocent smile,"Manga nah! Agar aap khush ho, toh hum bhi khush rahenge!"
Arnav was stunned listening to her reply and rushed to Khushi's side with an emergency, wanting to make sure that she was real and not a figment of his imagination. In his world of lies and deceit, there was no such thing as unconditional love. That, he had managed to find this oasis, his Khushi, in the dreadful desert we call life, was nothing short of a miracle! Enveloping her in his arms he gave her a tight hug which Khushi returned with equal sweetness and sincerity. They remained lost in each others embrace, forgetting about everything, but each other. Getting a little emotional, Arnav whispered into Khushi's ear, "Promise me you that you will never leave me."
Khushi understanding the sudden emotional outburst of her half-soon-to-be-full-husband promised without a second thought, "Hum wada kartey hain."
Unknown to our lovers, four stars in the sky, shone a bit more brightly than the rest, showering their blessing and love on this unusual couple.
It was close to midnight when they reached Buaji's house in Laxminagar. Before getting out of the car, Khushi turned towards Arnav, a little unsure. "Woh, hum ne pata kiya haine ki Date ke baad , ke baad...Woh..."
Arnav was confused, "What?", he asked.
Khushi gathered all her courage, clutching by his lapels, pulled him towards her and kissed him full on his lips. After the initial surprise, Arnav recovered with a lighting speed and kissed his half/full/whatever-wife with equal passion, making her lose her senses. After a while, when they pulled apart for some much needed air, Khushi was breathing heavily and touched her face feeling hot . Arnav teased her by saying, "Tum thik ho? Tumhari naak kyaa, tumhaara pura chehra hi lal ho gaya haine!"
Khushi blushed even more and suddenly feeling awkward grabbed her handbag and rushed out of the car. Arnav scrolled down the window and called out, "Khushi..."
Khushi stopped in her tracks like a deer caught in front of headlights, only turned her face in his direction inquiringly, Arnav leaned out from the driver's seat towards her saying, "Thank you for giving me the Best Date of my life. I will never forget it! Good Night."
Just nodding in reply, a blushing Khushi hurried to open the door of Buaji's house with the extra key she always carried. Giving him a shy smile Khushi went inside and closed the door. Arnav waited for her to inside and started to reverse his car. Arnav drove away with a smile, whistling. Life was definitely looking good!
----- Hope they continue with these dates in future too😉
Do let us know if you like / dislike it with your comments and likes.
Sayali & Sanika😃
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
453