I Bow Down To You -Sajde Mein Yuh Hee Jhukta:Pg 95 - Page 57

"What do you want? Money? You do this all for money? Wait, let me call police!" she reaches for her phone in her handbag. Arnav, stands right behind the lady, cannot take her accusations, "Excuse Me!.. She was trying to stop the kidnapping of your child. Understand? At least listen to her!" The lady turns around with anger.. but as soon as she looks at Arnav, her eyes go in thinking mode.. Arnav is stunned' they look at each other as if they have known each other! They look at each other for a few moments before Arnav says, "Sheetal?" The lady smiles, "Arnav?"

As they both search for words, Khushi excitedly says to Arnav, "Do you know her?" Arnav answers right away, "Of course! Sheetal.. I.. we were in the same class in college." Arnav looks at Sheetal. Sheetal looks at Khushi.. Arnav introduces her, "That's my wife, Khushi!" Sheetal's face drains color immediately on Arnav's words and she gives a cold look to Khushi. Khushi, however, immediately puts her hands together and says with a broad smile, "Namaste!" Sheetal does not respond in any particular manner.





Khushi explains, "Listen, I was not trying to kidnap your child, instead I was trying to save him from them!" Sheetal brings a forceful smile on her face when Aarav adds, "Yea, Mom! She is right!" Khushi gives a sweet smile to Aarav. Sheetal looks at Arnav briefly, then turns to Khushi and says, "Actually, I am sorry. I don't know.." Khushi interrupts her effervescently, ".. what all you said? No problem! I understand." Arnav looks at Khushi with a smirk on his face and abundance of admiration in his eyes as she continues, ".. that how much a mother worries about her child!" Sheetal shakes her head quickly and tries to make a move to leave. Arnav says, "Sheetal, wait! Long time.. how have you been?" Instead of answering she gives Arnav a slightly dejected look. Arnav looks at Aarav, with a smile he says, "It's your kid?" Sheetal takes a long breath in before she answers, "Yes, he is my son, .. Aarav!" Arnav gently nods at Aarav who does not reciprocate his gesture.

Khushi excitedly holds Arnav's arm and asks, "Remember, Arnav ji, I told you about a child? The one whose suit got exchanged with ours? He is the one!" Now Arnav has a whole different context about the child. He walks over to the Arnav and gets on his knees as he says with a broad sweet smile, "Hello, big guy!" No muscles move on Aaranv's face as Arnav introduces himself, "I'm Arnav!" As they shake hands in a friendly manner, Aarav says through clenched teeth, "Aarav!" "I heard that you did not like my suit!" Arnav asks casually. Aarav answers with a stern face, 'I said what I felt!" Khushi looks at him with shocked eyes, Arnav raises his eyebrows as his smile deepens. "Because' I don't lie!" Aarav completes his sentence. His attitude and answer bring a broad smile to Arnav's face, "Okay!" Khushi does not like the way he answers. Aarav then asks Arnav, "May I ask you a question?" "Ya, sure!" Arnav says. Aarav looks at Khushi from the corner of his eyes, as Khushi looks at him intently, "Is your wife always like this?" Arnav bursts into a giggle mixed smile, nods, 'Ya!" Aarav responds, "But, she is very sweet!" "I know!" Arnav says with a broad smile. This brings a smile to Khushi's face. Sheetal immediately grabs Aarav's hand and says, "Actually, we are getting very late." As Arnav stands up she says, "It was nice to meet you!.. Thank You, Khushi!" Khushi nods with a smile. Sheetal quickly takes off with Aarav, 'Come!"

As Sheetal walks away with her son, Khushi says with a happy smile on her face to Arnav, "Doesn't it feel good when all of sudden some old friends meet?" Arnav grabs Khsuhi by arm and as he pulls her with him he says, "Ya, you come with me!" As Arnav and Khushi get in the care and put their seat belts on, Khushi looks at Arnav's face and gulps down a bit worried. She asks,. "Are you really upset or do I just feel so?" Arnav says with slight sarcasm in his voice as he looks up while fastening his seat belt, "Oh, how perceptive!.. .Khushi, why do you enjoy interfering in someone else's business?" Khushi seriously says, "Who enjoys that Arnav ji?.. But.. some people were trying to kidnap a small child.. how can I let that happen?.. Didn't I say that I was an alert citizen?" Arnav says with an aggravated voice, 'And I also said that it's not good to have you so alert!" Wide eyed Khushi exclaims, "What? I knew it! You did not say it loudly but you definitely said something!" As they both fight, aggravated .. Arnav looks away. Khushi says, "Arnav ji,.. they were taking a small child.. " Arnav interrupts her, much calmer voice now, "Khushi.. ! Agreed that you should have helped the child.. but that does not mean that you put the child in the kidnapers' car and drive away! You can't even drive a car!" "I can! I can drive a car!" Khushi argues. Frustrated Arnav looks away as Khushi says, "It's just that I have not driven in a while so I am out of practice!" Aggravated Arnav says, "Out of practice.. If something did happen to you.. then you would be completely out! Stupid!" Khushi feels hurt.. she keeps looking at Arnav as he keeps saying in an aggravated voice.. his worries speak their mind now, " Whenever you go to help someone, something goes wrong. When will you stop doing all this?" Loved Loved Loved the way they said all of this! Arnav's concern.. his aggravation.. Khushi's enthusiasm and then hurt'It was so believable.. and touching.. so real!

"Alright! From now on, I won't help anyone!" Khushi says. BUT.. Khsuhi does not stop there, she goes on in original Khushi style, "Even when people will be drowning in a tsunami.. " Arnav rolls his eyes as she goes on, "Not even when people are getting engulfed in the earth due to an earthquake.. . I will just watch from a corner. I won't say tata, bye bye.. who knows. Just because I say so, something bad may happen!" As she goes tangential Arnav tries to help her understand, "Khushi.. " but then he swallows his words in frustration, "Forget it!" He starts the car and starts driving back home.

At RM:

Everyone is in the lounge area.. having tea.. and snacks.. NK restless' worried.. paces around with a phone in his hand. His gaze keeps going to the door. As soon as the door opens and Khushi enters with Arnav, he screams with joy, "Nannav!" Khushi and Arnav stop in their track as excitedly NK runs towards them, "Wow! .. Nannav.. mere bhai! You won't believe this but I am so happy to see you!" As Khushi looks at him with a mellow face, Arnav makes a gesture to suggest it's alright.. Anjali asks, "NK Bhai! You just met with these two not to long ago! So, how can you miss them so much in a such a short time?" Arnav suppresses his smile. NK doers not know how to answer.. he stutters, "Just.. like .. that, Di! My heart is pouring affection now that I see them!" He looks at Arnav and Khushi and says, "I love you guys!" Khushi looks at Arnav with a puzzled face.. Arnav looks at NK with a gentle smile on his face. Khushi has no idea why NK says so. Mami immediately makes an expert comment, "Hello Hi Bye Bye! It seems like it's the season of love fever in this house!.. Hmm.. look at them! Husband and wife.. coming from honeymoon!" Nani gives her a look! Arnav immediately covers up, "Khushi wanted to have some ice cream.. so I took her! That's it!" Khushi looks at Arnav with puzzled eyes. NK says with an adorable look in his eyes, "So romantic, mere bhai!" Payal and Anjali smile. Khushi however, says not a single word and leaves. Arnav's eyes follow her.. so does each set of eyes in the room.. with question, "What's wrong with her?"

Arnav's face turns stern as he notices Khushi's unusual behavior. Mami exclaims as she bites on a biscuit.. a cookie with sarcasm mixed in her voice, "Hello Hi Bye Bye! Did you not get the flavor right, Arnav bitwa? Huh,.. not liking.. bitter chocolate?" As Arnav's eyes fill with apprehension and suppressed rage, Anjali's eyes notice it. Worried she looks at Arnav's stern long face.

As Arnav starts walking towards the stairs, she asks, 'Chhotey, is everything alright?" Arnav's face relaxes as he looks at Anjali, he gestures with his eyes to say 'yes' as Anjali guides him, "Go! Now make it up to her!" Arnav takes off with a slightly relaxed face.

As Arnav walks into his room, he finds Khushi folding her clothes. Khushi senses his arrival but does not turn back. Arnav stops, thinks for a moment but when she does not turn around, he walks up to her and puts his hand on her arm, says in a soft voice, "Khushi.." Khushi immediately moves away.. says nothing.. makes no eye contact.. Arnav's face shows dejection. He takes his spot on the chaise, open up his laptop and starts working. Even though Arnav tries to work, his mind is occupied with Khushi.. he looks up as she re enters the room. He is about to get up for something when a thought occurs to him.. he thinks for a moment.. then he says casually, Khushi, please, give me that file!" Wow, Arnav has been saying 'please", "sorry" and "Thank You" a lot these days! What a change! As he waits for Khushi's reaction, she turns around and tells him as if she is broadcasting news, "I have decided that from now on I will not do anything for anyone! I will just mind my own business! I will do things for myself.. and not worry about anyone else." Before Arnav can say anything she gives him an angry look and leaves the room. Arnav wonders, "I think that I probably said too much and not right!"

In the kitchen:

Anjali cuts the tomato. Payal walks in, "Di, let it be! I will take care of it!" Anjali says with a smile, "No problem, Payal ji! It will all be done!" Just then Khushi brings a frying pan.. puts it ion te gas stove and starts making Jalebi' without responding to Payal as she asks, "Khushi, are you making Jalebi?" Anjali and Payal look at each other with meaningful eyes. As Khushi continues to make Jalebis, Payal asks again, "What's wrong Khushi?" Obviously Upset Khushi answers, "Nothing, Jiji!" Anjali tries to distract her, "Khushi ji, what should we make for the afternoon? Something that Chhotey likes?" Anjali looks at her with mischievous smile. But Khushi says in a flat voice, "I don't know, Di. Anyway, whatever gets cooked, everyone will have to eat it!" Payal tries to dig in, "Khushi.." Khushi interrupts her with aggravation, "Jiji, there is no need to make anything for anyone! Regardless.. if you do something good for someone, then people feel that I am interfere! Better, I mind my own business!' She shakes her head in dejection. Just then walks in Arnav. His pace slows down as he sees Payal and Anjali along with Khushi in the kitchen. He comes stands behind Payal and Anjali. Khushi throws a quick glance at him.. then she averts his gaze. Arnav looks at her frying pan.. notices that she is making Jalebi. He puts his hand on Anjali's shoulder. Anjali turns around immediately. Arnav's eyes gesture to Anjali.. Anjali understands.. she gestures Payal. She understands.. Both of them leave the kitchen. And leave Arnav and Khushi alone.

Khushi chews on Jalebi as she continues to make them. Arnav watches her for a few moments. Then he asks her, "Khushi, where is my white shirt?" Khushi does not even look at him, forget answering his question! Arnav asks again in a calm voice, "Khushi I am asking, where is my white shirt?" Khushi says in a belligerent tone, "I don't know!" As Arnav watches her, she goes on, "Anyway.. from now on.. I am not going to care about your food.. clothes.. socks.. shoes..nothing! I won't even check if your mobile is charged or not! I won't check on your files either! Arnav's gaze stays steady on her face as she keeps talking averting his gaze. His eyes have affection.. and realization of her anger.. he stays calm as she adds, "So, from now on if you ask me about anything then my answer is going to be 'I don't know!'.. . I will mind my own business!" Khushi then takes a bite on the hot fried Jalebi that burns her mouth.. reflexively Arnav's heart jumps to this throat as he screams, 'Khushi, be careful!" He rushes to pour water for her as Khushi fans her burning mouth with her hands..

Arnav hold the glass of water in front of Khushi, "Here!" Khushi however, acts stubborn. She does not take the glass, instead she walks away. Arnav quickly grabs her arm and pulls her back. "Don't touch me! Let go of me!" Khushi says angrily. The flirtatious lover in Arnav takes over. With a mischievous smirk on his face and a teasing twinkle in his eyes he tightens his grip and says, "Oh, really! And what if I touch you?" Khushi looks at him with slightly vulnerable eyes as Arnav's flirtatious gaze stays on her, "Huh.. what will you do?" As he gazes at her with affectionate but flirtatious eyes, fiercely Khushi says, "Then.. you don't know me!,.. And if you want to know, then go and ask those kidnappers' whom I defeated so easily!" A cute smirk appears on Arnav's face as he looks at Khushi with adorable eyes while she struggles to free her hand from his grip and says, "I am not a helpless female! Let go of me!" Arnav tightens his grip further., he takes a few steps forward as Khushi reflexively moves back. He says in a flirtatious manner in his husky voice as he looks her into the eyes, "You can't do anything! Because.. when I hold your hand and look deep into your eyes.. it disarms you!" Khushi's lips quiver at his words.. with his gaze.,. the danger of her melting away with his flirtatious husky tone.. is evident.. her innocent eyes.. tell him all.. Arnav knows what her heart says.. he says in that same husky voice, keeping his gaze steady, "Yea! Totally disarmed!" As Khushi's heart beats faster.. and she gulps down helplessly' her lips still quivering.. her eyes staying wrapped up in his gaze.. as Arnav flirtatiously smiles at her.. with his killer smirk.. Khushi finds it hard to avoid drowning in those flirtatious eyes.. She does the cutest thing! Covers her eyes with her hand. OH, how missed the "Dhak Dhak Dhak Dhak" in the background! Wish.. they had used it here to revive the old memories'

Fiercely Khushi says as she keeps her eyes covered, "That's your misunderstanding!" Arnav continues to flirt, "Really? Okay!" He tightens his grip on her hand as she tries to pull it out of his grip and says in the same husky voice, "Then look into my eyes!" Arnav's flirtatious, mischievous gaze steadies on Khushi's face as he challenges her. Arnav knows well that Khushi cannot resist a challenge! Khushi takes it one step further.. as she pulls her hand down from her eyes, she looks at him cross eyed. Bringing a faint smile to Arnav's face. .. Thinking that he is distracted, Khushi tries to slip away. Arnav grabs her right away, "Funny!" As he pulls her back in front of him, Khushi fights, "Let go of me! Let go!" Arnav holds her tight in place, comes a step closer and asks, "What will you do now?" Khushi yells over her shoulder, "Mami ji!.. Mami ji.. " Arnav's flirtatious gaze steady on her face with a smirk on his face' "I will call Di!" Khushi says. Arnav's gaze does not change except that it now has an added challenge to it! Realizing that no one is gouing to come.. and that Arnav is not going to let go of her.. Khsuhi's defense starts failing.. with dampened spirit she says.. 'Jiji.." Arnav looks at her with narrowed eyes as his grip on her hand stays tight, :"Jijaji' Nani ji.." Khsuhi's voice loses the steam as she comes down to barely audible "Nanhe ji.." Arnav says teasingly, "Khushi, the list of "Ji"s is done! Now what?" Khushi is no less! She grabs a Jalebi and almost brings to shove it in Arnav's mouth as she says with renewed energy, "Then I will feed this to the Laad Governor!" Arnav reflexively pulls back.. Khushi seizes this opportunity to pull her hand free from his grip and runs away. Arnav thinks for a moment, "What just happened here?" he raises his eye brows with a gesture, "Hmm. Smart!" Yes, Round two also goes to Khushi! 'Okay!" Arnav says before he leaves the kitchen. He is not going to give up so easily.

As Arnav comes back upstairs, he finds Khushi watering the plants in his garden by poolside. He walks up to her and asks, "So, you won't even let me touch you!" Khushi says nothing. Neither does she look at him.. she swings the watering can above Arnav's head. He ducks down as his crazy Khushi acts stubborn. Khushi continues watering the plants while she sings, "The weather is not good today' there is no reason to talk,.. what the what the what the.." Arnav rolls his eyes. ..then he grabs her arm and says in a calm voice with an urge in it, "Khushi, listen to me!" Khushi swings the can again.. defensively Arnav moves back holding his hands stretched trying to avoid getting sprayed.. Loved Loved Loved both these times how Arnav ducked.. his expressions.. It reminded me of the Bali night when Khushi came with a bucket full of water to put the fire out' and Arnav ducked down!

Now Khushi warns Arnav, "Look, don't you come close to me! I will pour water on you!" Arnav holds the watering can firmly from Khushi's hand with a determined look in his eyes and pulls it out, puts it down by the poolside. Khushi's eyes go wide. But then she turns fierce again as she threatens him, "Don't pick a fight with me! I know how to wrestle! I will hit you like clothing, the way laundry man does!" Arnav looks at Khushi with amused eyes. Khushi tries to move away.. As she passes by Arnav he reaches for her.. he ends up grabbing and pulling away her dupatta. Scarf.. He thinks for a moment before a wide eyed Khushi turns around and starts fighting with him, "Give it back to me! Give it to me!" As Khushi struggles to get her dupatta back, brainiac Arnav's thinking wheels churn.. he rolls the dupatta in his hands.. and carefully he ties it over Khushi's mouth to her surprise.. As Khushi tries to speak from behind her ties mouth, "Let go!.. Let go.." Arnav now uses the same dupatta to blindfold Khushi. "Let go of me! Let go!.. what are you doing?" Khushi keeps saying.. "Let go.. let go!" Arnav now reaches for her hand as he says in a calm voice, "I am your husband, okay! I can do whatever I desire!" Khushi's defense falls weak. Arnav takes her hand and puts it around his neck.. then he wraps one arm around her waist and reaches under her knees to with another arm to lift her.. As he hold her in his arms, though Khushi keeps her arms wrapped around his neck, she wiggle her legs vigorously.. in a calm voice Arnav says, "Stop swimming in the air!" as he starts walking.

"Let go of me! Let go of me!" Khushi keeps screaming as Arnav carries her to the car blindfolded. Arnav drops her on her feet keeping one arm around her, opens the passenger side door, lifts Khushi again.. drops her in the passenger sit.. "Let go!" Khushi screams.. Arnav unties her mouth and says, "Don't try to open the blindfold otherwise I will tie your hands and mouth both!" Then he instructs in no uncertain terms as he closes the door, "Out on your seat belt!" Khushi keeps showing a finger in imaginary direction as she tries follow Arnav's footsteps.. She quickly reaches for her seatbelt as Arnav comes to sit on the driver's seat. He buckles up and starts driving.

"What are you doing?" Khushi demands as Arnav drives. "Keep quiet!" Arnav answers in a calm voice. "Are you kidnapping me?" Khushi says. " Think what ever you want to!" Arnav says. OMG.. how nice ASR looked with only a hint of stubble! "You will be paying yourself!" Khushi says, "What's use of kidnapping?" "Shhh" goes Arnav. His fierce tigress puffs up her cheeks and sits quiet. Just then police pulls Arnav over. As Arnav pulls over, the policeman comes to the window. Arnav rolls down the window. "Sir, license, please!" the policeman requests. As Arnav reaches for his wallet in his pocket, the police man asks blindfolded Khushi, "Madam, are you alright?" Khushi says with a sweet smile, "My dear brother, policeman.. I cannot see.. but you can! How can I be alright when my eyes are blindfolded with a dupatta? Look, he is trying to kidnap me!" "What?" The policeman asks. Arnav interrupts, "She is my wife.. she is not listening to me." The policeman gets it. Khushi says with a sweet smile, "Bhaisaab, I listen to everything he says. Even when I listen to him, he has a problem." Arnav turns to Khushi and says, "Khushi, don't try to twist the tale, okay! Don't take it literally." Khushi goes off on him, "What do you want, Laad Governor?" "Don't call me that!" Arnav says with clenched teeth, his voice slightly firm. "Now if you show me those traits, that's what I will call you!" Khushi fights back fiercely. "Khushi, shut your mouth up!" Arnav says in a softer voice. "Why should I shut up?" Khushi argues, "Open my eyes!" As Arnav goes to say something the policeman interrupts, "Sir, you can go! Listen, I do not want to get involved in husband wife's fight! It's no use! Sir, you may go!" As Arnav starts the car, Khushi screams again, "Look, he is trying to kidnap me!.. Listen!" The policeman moves away and waves Arnav to go.

After a while, Arnav stops the car. He takes his seat belt off and gets down from the car. "Arnav ji!" Khushi immediately calls for him, "Arnav ji!" Arnav comes from the passenger side, opens the door, takes Khushi's seat belt off.. holds her hand and as he helps her to get out of the car, she screams, "Let go of me! Let go!" Arnav holds her hand tight as he navigates. "What are you doing?.. Let go!.. Arnav ji, let go of me!" Arnav however, hold her hand tight as he walks her with him.. into his mother's secret garden.

Once they reach the rose vines, Arnav releases Khushi's hand. Khushi takes her blindfold off.. as she opens her eyes' she sees the roses in Arnav's mother's garden. Her gaze mellows down a bit. Arnav tries to say, "Khushi, I have been trying to talk with you for long time!" "No!" Khushi covers her ears. Closes her eyes then averts his gaze as she says, "I don't want to hear anything that you have to say!" Then she takes her hands off her ears and looks at him, says fiercely, "Because, now on I won't listen to anyone!" Arnav's face now turns firm.. he takes a step forward as she says, "What if I force you?" Khushi look sat his pointed gaze as she says, "What? You can't do that!" Arnav teasingly says, "Really?.. Look around.. " his voice turns serious as he tries to challenge her, "There's no one around!" Khushi looks around.. says, "Look, if you do anything like that, then I won't talk to you!"

Arnav challenges her, "Are you sure?" Arnav smiles as he challenges her, "Khushi, I bet you if you could keep quiet for five minutes!" This trick never goes waste! Khushi says, "I accept your challenge!" Arnav smiles, rolls his eyes and says, 'Okay!" He looks at Khushi as she puts her finger on her lips.. which she removes quickly. She fiddles with her dupatta.. paces around.,. stands still. Then paces again. Sits down on the bench.. Arnav stands and waits.. watches her.. Khushi cannot keep quiet long enough.. she gives up, "Alright! Alright! I can't keep quiet! Keeping quiet is a punishment for me! What can I do, I am like that since I was a child! Silence bites me! When I keep quiet, I feel that the world does not exist.. and that I am all alone. Left behind.." As Khsuhi gets more and more aggravated. Arnav reaches for Khsuhi's arm.. holds her just below her shoulder'. Khushi quiets down. .. without a word,.. just one comforting, reassuring touch of Arnav calms her down.

As Khushi looks at Arnav, he bows his head down, still holding her by her arm. Khushi immediately melts. . she says in a soft voice, "Arnav ji, you don't need to bow in front of me!" Arnav looks slightly up as he says, 'Yes, I need to!.. In front of you!.. You deserve it!" As Khushi looks into his eyes with a vulnerable gaze, Arnav says with an adorable gaze, a flicker of smile on his face, "Khushi, you are crazy! You talk a lat. You taste my patience so often' make me angry.. but.." Poor Khushi'she says innocently, 'Okay, that's why you have bowed down. So that you can forgive me?" Arnav looks into her eyes, his gaze soft.. his facial muscles relaxed.,. affection in his eyes and a light smile across his lips, "I have bowed down because there can be no other human being like you!.. Your selflessness.. your courage.. the passion to help others' your values.. everything is so special! I respect you a lot." Khushi's eyes moisten as she listens to Arnav'. He says in a soft voice, "Khushi, I have not bowed down in front of anyone But today, I feel like it! I know that you are so much better than me, very special!" As Arnav's words sink in.. Khushi's eyes well up.. as they gaze into each others eyes.. there gazes tender.. their hearts reflect in their eyes.. they don't need words.. their eyes speak. Their hearts communicate. .. "So' " Arnav says and bows his head down..

Khushi immediately reaches for Arnav's face. She cups his face in both her hands.. shakes her head to say "no need'." As she chokes on her emotions.. Then she hugs Arnav with an emotionally heavy heart. A tranquil smile spreads across Arnav's face as he holds Khushi close to his heart'. Khushi briefly closes her eyes to cherish the moment. "But, Arnav ji, can I say something?" "Huh.." he goes. As they stay in each others embrace Khushi says, "It's a miracle! You said so much and I said nothing!" As Khushi pulls away, she looks Arnav into the eye and says, "Don't you talk filmi like me!" The she giggles as she says, "It does not suit you!" Arnav smiles as his heart fills with affection and love. He reaches for Khushi's face and plants an affectionate kiss on her forehead. "I am sorry, Khushi! I did not react appropriately this morning! I scolded you so much.. I shouldn't have!" Khushi says in a soft voice, "No Arnav ji, you were right! I know that you fear losing me." Arnav curls his lips as he nods in affirmative. Khushi again hugs him.. says, "Don't you worry! I am not going anywhere. .. up.. down' left or right.. so soon! I will be right here, with you!" "Khushi!' Arnav says in a very soft voice.. Khushi pulls away and looks at him with a smile on her face as he says, "I know that you are very courageous." Khushi curls her lips with a proud smile as her eyes twinkle. "Will you do me a favor?" Arnav asks, "If there is a next time like this then, please, call the police!" Khushi nods in agreement and hugs Arnav tight..