SS - Don't want it to be you..

Starting once more, a forgotten story i wrote that keeps popping in my notifications, and now its a with a promise i intend to keep.

This thought just crossed my mind last night about how ASR would come to know about our Khushi's engagement and this is how he would react being ASR! so the scene goes like khushi has gone to RM for some work (i dont really care what work, just go there when ASR is there :))

This is after her engagement is done...next morning

Anjali sends khushi to ASR's room (as OP JP, DAYA and any other person is not avl) to give some of his official papers which he left in the study last night...she hesitates but then goes to his room thinking that she'll just give and come back, so she proceeds and knocks the door, ASR asks her to come in.. she goes in and as she is giving him the papers a paper or two fall below his work table, she apologizes and bends to get the papers. the hand in which she's wearing ring is up on the table holding it and she bends below the table to get the paper with other hand, ASR is busy working and trying hard not to concentrate on her.. but then in one glance he notices her ring, and frowns...

He stand and comes near to her hand (to the side where she's bent).. and touches her ring..khushi frowns and instantly stands up to notice ASR staring her engagement ring... she swallow's a lump in her throat...and tries to go.. but ASR is holding her hand and he ask's her " yeh kya hai" she remains calm doesn't respond, he gets furious and shouts at her then she angrily looks up to him and tells him when they don't have anything to do with each other why is he bothered about it and starts to walk away...

ASR pulls her back (like he did when she told him charecter dheela) and asks her again..they both share the pain in their heart through their eyes... khushi closes her eyes and remembers him telling "tumhari ya tumahre payal ki koi ehmiyat nahi hai meri zindagi main" she opens her eyes looks straight in to his and says " hamari sagai ho gayi hai" and notices the moment she says this his eyes are furiously looking at her and he grips her arm even more tightly...she expects him to say something.. something which can tell her whats going on in his mind.. but the only words he utters is " tumhari himmat" and with his other free hand forcefully pulls the ring out of her finger and throws it and says "kisi aur ki nahi"...releasing her from his grip he utters his golden words


" get out"

Part 2

Khushi couldn't believe what she heard and what just happened...she turns to leave his room, but then she collects herself to go and find her ring...arnav looks at her as she's trying to find her ring...he grabs her arm and forcefully shows her way out of his room and shuts the door on her face.

She wonders why he is doing like this and decides to knock when anjali calls her, she stops her hand half way and goes to anjali. In living area entire family is sitting together only arnav is missing, everybody is discussing how good diwali was celebrated in RM this year and how beautifully khushi had decorated that guests were appreciating it over and again, then nani says
"sach khushi bitiya aap ki baat hi alag hai, sabka dil jeet leti hai aap, kal sab aapki sajawat ki bahut tareef karat rahe" everybody nods in agreement to this and then khushi says " are naniji lavanya ji ne humari bahut madat kari, aur ab toh unhe sab kuch aa gaya hai.. ab aapko hamari zarurat nahi...hum ye bhi kehna chahte the ki... and she's saying this arnav comes down and sits along with everyone deliberately

Anjali notices khushi and arnav staring at each other and says to khushi.."are khushi aap dariye mat chote bas hamare saath baithne aye hai..toh aap kya keh rahi thi" khushi looks at anjali and gives a nervous smile, she can feel arnav's eyes glaring at her...she gathers courage and says " hum ye keh rahe the anjaliji ke "lavanya ji ko sab kuch aa gaya hai.. jo kuch bhi aap unhe seekhana chahti thi woh sab..ab aapko hamari zarurat nahi padegi, aur jab humara kaam pura ho hi gaya haito hum kalse nahi aaenge"

Everybody has that surprised look on their faces..lavanya says " are khushi itni jaldi hai kya RM chodne ki?! kya itna pareshan karte hai hum?!" and smiles..anjali says " haan khushiji itni jaldi kya hai?.. kal hi to ye sab finalise hua hai na, abhi thode din ruk jaiye fir hum is baare main baat karenge, aur waise bhi aapki aadat si ho gayi hai, ekdum se aap aana band kardengi to humein bhi ajeeb lagega"... nani, aakash and mamaji nod in approval, but then mami says " khushi tumhe chinta karne ki zarurat nahi hai...koi miss nahi karenge hum tumka yaha.."

Arnav and khushi steal glances here..and then khushi says "wo darasal anjali ji hamare amma babuji ne hamari..." she looks at arnav who is staring at khushi clenching his fist she looks down and says " hamari shaadi tai kardi hai..aur kal hi hamari sagai hui hai...isliye" before she says any further anjali and la at once congratulate her and all members except arnav are celebrating this news... anjali says" ye diwali toh sach main bahut hi shubh rahi.. aapki bhi sagai ho gayi aur chote ne bhi shaadi ke liye haan kar di" to this nani says " ha khushi bitiyan aapne bahut hi aachi khabar sunayi.. hum aapke liye bahut khush hai.. jo bhi aapko patni ke roop main paega wo bahut hi khush naseeb hoga" and blesses her arnav looks at khushi who avoids to meet his eyes


Lavanya says to khushi " ab apni engagement ring to dikhao chamkili.. hum bhi to dekhe tumhare husband ka taste kaisa hai?!" and teases khushi, when la says this khushi and arnav look at each other and remember what happened in the room earlier, but khushi has not forgotten what arnav told her at her home last night that she holds no importance in his life.

khushi says to lavanya " ha lavanya ji aap to hamari saheli hai..." and brings are hand forward and shyly looks down lavanya says "are chamkili apna haath nahi anguthi dikhao" khushi acts surprised and says" are hamari anguthi kaha gayi abhi to yahi thi' Arnav frowns to this act and thinks why she's behaving as if she doesn't know?!

Hiranmayi....

Part 3

Khushi acted of not knowing that how her ring went missing...and she was frantically looking for it.. then anjali says " are khushiji ap yaad kijiye na aap kaha kaha gayi thi aur kaha ho sakti hai" khushi replies by saying" ha anjaliji aap sahi keh rahi hai..hum to bas living room, kitchen main gaye the.. lekin kitchen main to humnein ring apne haath main dekhi thi... are haa!! aapne humein arnav ji ke kamre main bheja tha na shayad wahi gir gayi hogi!!!"


Arnav shouts at khushi " what the hell khushi kumari gupta.. tum apni cheezo ka khayal nahi rakh sakti to mujhpe baat dalne ki koshish kar rahi ho?! tumhari himmat kaise hui? main tumhe..." arnav is still talking that nani interupts him and says" chote aap baat ko thik se samajhne ki koshish kariye.. unhone kaha shayad aapke kamre main gir gayi hogi... ye nahi kaha aap ne chupai hai.. samjhe aap"


Nani turns to khushi and says " bitiya aap jaiye aur chote ke kamre main dhundiye.." la says "ha chamkili main yaha dekhti hu tum waha dekho" with this she proceeds to arnav's room and everybody else goes to their respective rooms. Arnav follows khushi to his room and as she enters the room.. arnav holds her shoulder and turns her around khushi says " chodiye humein ye kya kar rahe hai aap" arnav replies saying " ye natak karna band karo KKG..kyun dikhawa kiya ghar walo ke samne bolo"


Khushi gets angry and pushes arnav 2 steps back and says" ha humnein natak kiya.. par aapki wajah se, aapko kya lagta hai..sab aapki marzi se hoga..jab chahe aap paas aajenge aur jab chahe kehdenge shakal nahi dekhni?! hamare ghar walo ne hamari sagai tai kardi hai, aur sagai ho bhi chuki hai aur aapne hamare sagai ki anguthi faik di?! aisa koi kaise kar sakta hai? aap in rishton ko nahi mante honge MR.ASR but hamare liye inki bahut manyata hai..." and starts looking for ring

Again ASR holds her firmly by the shoulders and says " tumhari marzi se hui hai sagai?" she refuses to meet his eye and says " sagai ho gayi ab aise sawalo ka koi matlab nahi hai "and tries to get rid of his hold.. but he holds her firmly and says " yes or no" she doesn't reply.. " tell me yes or no damn it!" she startles in his grip...and closes her eyes and says ..." hamare amma babuji hamare liye koi galat faisla nahi lenge..humein unpe bharosa hai aur unki pasand par bhi... hum.." arnav leaves her free from his grip and she looks at him shocked and he smirks... she avoids meeting his eye.

After this conversation he lets her look for her ring...she gets confused to his reaction but continues looking for ring.. she's is so busy looking for her ring as she has to rush back home she doesn't notice arnav going to his cupboard and taking out something from there and throwing it carefully!

" yeh rahi tumhari ring.. ab dhyan rakhna iska, alag nahi honi chahiye tumse" by saying things he takes two steps forward puts the ring in her ring finger by himself...Khushi is shocked and is about to say something she hears anjali " are mil gayi aapki ring?! Acha hua.. dikhaiye humein kaisi hai aapke jeevansathhi ki pasand... wah ye to bahut achi hai, wah khushiji maan gaye unki aur aapki choice ko...

Hiranmayi...

Part 4

Khushi glared at the ring...she couldn't understand what was arnav up too.. this wasn't her ring! her ring was simple...and this was very elegant and looked very expensive!!... she looked back at arnav and at anjali who was already calling out for lavanya to see the ring " dekho lavanya kitni pyari ring hai" lavanya looks at her ring and says "wow khushi its amazing... ASR hamari engagement ring lene ke time we'll definitely to go this jeweler from where khushi's would be has bought her this ring!"


Khushi looks at arnav who has a straight face...no expression to read..she tried to figure out what he did and why but his eyes would just not give it away except for the fact that he kept looking at her every now and then...she decided to tell anjali and lavanya that this is not her ring " anjaliji darasal ye anguthi hamari nahi..." arnav cuts her mid sentence and says "Khushi kumari gupta tum har din agar late tak rukogi to ye mat sochna is ghar se tumhe har baar koi drop karne jaega... time dekho kitna hua hai..tumhe ab jaana chahiye aur humein kuch der akele chod dena chahiye..." khushi looks at time and so does anjali.. anjali says " are khushiji ye to bahut late ho gaya aapko.. 8:45pm ho gaye..pata hi nahi chala"


khushi says "ji anjaliji lekin hum..."anjali says" khushiji abhi bhi aapki zarurat hai humein, aap aati rahiyega.. hum baki baat kal karenge thik hai?!" and smiles.. la interupts her and says " tum itni raat ko tumhe hum akela nahi bhej sakte haina di.. aur wo bhi ab tumhari engagement ho gayi hai... tumhe kuch ho gaya to tumhare would be to humein nahi chodenge!" and they share a laugh, whereas khushi and arnav share glances at each other. " arnav aaj khushiji ko ghar chod aao.. na please.. hamare liye dekho bahut late ho gaya hai" ... khushi suddenly jumps and says " nahi anjali ji hum.." no ways chamkili..asr please ... chamikili jao.." and they see her off in the car


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its a calm drive on a calm and empty road...khushi breaks the silence " aap ye kya kar rahe hai..?! humein hamari anguthi wapas dijiye... aap bhi jante hain ye hamari anguthi nahi hai" and she starts taking the ring off...Arnav brakes the car real hard "aisa karne ki sochna bhi mat.. isse tumse alag karne ke liye nahi pehnaya hai KKG.. aur us dusri anguthi ka na pehle ko matlab tha na aage koi hoga... don't you dare" khushi gets scared of his anger at this point and sits calm and at some point of the drive arnav turns to look at her and sees that she's crying...

he brings the car to a halt on the highway...khushi immediately gets down..and starts walking, arnav follows her pulls her to himself... khushi breaks down but makes a point not to give up to his ever changing moods and asks him emotionally.." aap chahte kya hai arnavji? aap kyun aisa kar rahe hai humein nahi samajh aa raha.. aapki kuch dino main sagyi hai...fir shaadi hai..aur aap aise mujhse..(she cuts her sentence between and says )hum apne aama babuji ko kya jawab denge hamari anguthi ke baare main?!


he brings a crying khushi back in to the car and drops her home.. while she's getting down she turns to look back at him.. they look at each other till payal comes and finds khushi staring at a pair of eyes looking at her with lot of passionate love...she taps her shoulder lightly and says" andar chale" and arnav drives back home...

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Arnav takes his own time to drive back home... he comes late and as he enters his room..he sees anjali at poolside " di aap yahan .. itni de hogayi aap soi nahi?!"... " nahi chote.. wo humein tumse baat karni thi..lavanya ke baare main!"

"ab kya hua di?"... "tum batao chote, tumhi bata sakte ho...hum to pooch rahe hai..! arnav frowns at this sudden change in her talk...

anjali changes the topic and says " acha chalo chodo.. hum na wo ring ke samples dekh rahe the jo humnein mangwaye the lekin un main se ek ring missing hai?. are wahi jo tumhe pasand thi!...tumnein kisi ko pehnai kya?!... arnav gets shocked on hearing this and says kya?! to this anjali says " are hum bhi na... jisse pyar karoge usse hi pehnaoge na?! jisse dur nahi jaa paoge usse hi pehnaoge na?! lavanya ko hi to pehnai hogi tumne.. main bhi na...good night chote" and she just goes off from there...

arnav follows her calls "di.. di .. meri baat suno..."anjali turns and says " abhi nahi chote.. tum sochlo.. samajhlo..tab humein batana..aur hum jante hai tum humein kya batana chahte ho..lekin sach kahen to batana to hum tumhe chate hai.."

Hiranmayi....

Part 5

Arnav stood by the pool side looking at the stars and asking himself.. What does he want really?...time just passed by and he woke up to realize that he was sleeping on the arm chair by the pool... the chair where he made khushi sit and put the payal on her! he walked to his room frustrated with what's happening to him and bangs his fist on the wall...at this moment anjali who was passing his room looks inside her chote's room to find him all upset about something...but she doesn't go up to him this time and decides to make his actions clear by how his reactions are.. rather than asking him and demanding explanations for things...

Door bell rings... everyone pays attention to it and so does arnav who is under secret observation by his sister...but he keeps his eyes to his food mostly not to make it obvious for anybody that he too like other members of his family is looking forward to see her..."Namaste naniji..namaste anjaliji, are wah lavanya ji aaj to aapne saree pehni hai, bahut achi lag rahi hai aap!"khushi says with a smile totally avoiding arnav who has managed to look at her under the pretext of looking at others sitting on the table...

" Di main office ja raha hoon...jaldi aajaunga fir evening main we'll go out today" and he leaves for the day...Anjali feels that this situation is such a dilema where her brother has landed himself... he has already promised to marry lavanya and now..Khushi?! how did this happen? they couldn't stand each other and now they love?!... no wait! i shouldn't be reaching any conclusion unless i am sure about it..i know about chote's feeling a little by what i saw yesterday (she saw arnav puting ring on khushi) but khushiji?! does she too...but she's engaged, isn't?! my goodness...so many if's and but's! hey devi maiya.. give me the strength to do what's right...


Are khushiji.. aap se kal baat hi nahi ho payi.. aapke jaane ke baad lavanya aur main aap hi ki baatein kar rahe the... toh.. bataiyen aapne unke baare main" anjali and lavanya chuckle..." ji wo to thik hai bas...aur kya" and the smile on her lips fades away by the mention of her marriage...anjali could read her sad eyes.." lavanya ji.. apko khushiji ne itna sab sikhaya aap sabke liye kuch khane ke liye banaiye na.. aisa kuch jo nani ko bikul hairan karde aur aapki teacher ji ko impress..." says anjali " yes di.. good idea, dekhna chamkili i'll prove to be a good student!" and she leaves anjali and khushi alone and heads towards kitchen..


Are khushiji.. aap hamesha kaam hi karti rehti hai.. aiye aaj humse kuch baatein kariye.. and they go towards the pool from arnav's room...as they enter arnav's room anjali notices that khushi is a bit hesitant.. as they anter pool side she looks around as if looking for someone..."kisi dhund rahi hai khushi?!"... "ji.. nahi to kisi ko bhi nahi!"... they both sit silently for a while... Anjali thinking how to start the conversation she wants to have and khushi is calm... as she can feel arnav's presence all around her by the pool side.. and that happened here between them...


"Chote ki sagai pe aap zaoor aaiyega...infact aapko unki aur lavanya ji ki sagai main hamari bahut madad karni hogi"...khushi remains silent and just gives half a nod..." hamain to yankeen hi nahi ho raha tha us din.. na jaane kya hua jo chote achanak shaadi ke liye maan gaye...acha hai aapki aur unki shaadi aas paas tai ho gayi.." and then she sees chote entering his room from where they are sitting" are chote idhar aao.. kya hua itni jaldi wapas aa gaye?! sab thik hai na..." Arnav and khushi look at each other " sab ok hai di..man nahi lag raha tha to..." anjali is surprised that arnav is not feeling like working today! " kya kaha chote tumhara kaam karne ka man nahi tha?! acha chalo aao baitho yahan.. " and she stands and makes arnav sit next to khushi and says "hum abhi tumhare liye chai leke aaye..."


there is a awkward silence between khushi and arnav..being seen over by anjali from corner of her eye from arnav's room... "arnavji.. hum apse dobara kehte hai.. please hamari anguthi humein de dijiye.. dekhiye" and she turns to see him stand right behind her.."Akash and payal love each other" khushi is surprised to hear this and that too from ASR than her sister! all she manages to say is " kya?!" ... arnav replies her back " i thought it was you who was trying to get in to raizada family..but never realizes you had other plans in to action as well" he says slowly increasing his volume to scare the girls he secretly loves..."aap kya bakwaas kar rahe hai?" .." to ye kya hai neecho tumhara parivaar aaya hua hai?!..mere parivar ke khilaf kar diya aakash ko tumne?! how could you?! grabbing her shoulders...


A tear drops from anjali's eyes to see her brother behave like this with a innocent girl...her heart cries for both of them and their situation!...she cries for Khushi thinking that she too somewhere has fallen for her heartless brother...and at the same time she cries for her brother about whom she realizes has gone through hell..for his family,and has seen the worst of relationships which has totally broken his trust from a relation called as man and wife...

downstairs nani...happily gives a yes for a answer for akash and payal's marriage and mamiji has no option but to give in for her son's demand.. but is not happy to have payal as her daughter in law...anjali intervines between khushi and arnav but doesn't give them a hint of what she saw and they all come down where marriage talks are being held..."dekha khushi bitiya aap ab is ghar se jaane wali hai to hum aapki behn ko is ghar main hamesha ke liye le aayein.." says nani with a huge smile playing on her lips.

khushi smiles back at her and then looks at arnav who is angry thinking he was right about this girl.. he was always right about her...she always had these plans from the day he met her...and on the other side anjali decides to know khushi's feelings ASAP and come to final decision.. she cant let her brother ruin his life for some past which is gone and she won't let the past come back to haunt their future..in anyway... NO WAY!

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in gupta household. when shyam comes to know of akash and payal's marriage he insits on khushi and his marriage the day after tmrw..they all try to make him understand but he tells them that if this day is not possible he wont be able to marry her ...he plans to take khushi to lucknow after marriage forever... khushi's family under his pressure agree for marriage and they decide to do a small ceremony at the nearest temple..

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A day before khushi's marriage..

anjali looses all hopes of uniting her brother with the girl he loves...she feels devastated for her brother..who did everything for her happiness...khushi has stopped coming and she could she the sadness on arnav's face when they all heard about her marriage being held so quickly and they were not going as buaji had told them.. that khushi's would be was very upset with raizada's behavior with khushi during the earlier days.. so he would not want to spoil the mood for his marriage..

anjali lavanya and nani.. couldn't stop themselves to purchase gift for her..and anjali tells OP to deliver it to khushi's place...its OP who discovers that khushi's groom is none-other than anjali's husband! he is terrified to see what he is seeing...and returns back to RM without delivering the gifts... As he sees anjali.. he decides to tell her what he saw there.. after all..thi family was the reason he could take care of his family...


"Anjaliji" he calls out..." ji OP ji.. are ye kya aapne gifts nahi diye?! kyun.. apko kaha tha na.. ab kal unki shaadi hai aur aapne..." "nahi anjaliji" he cuts her in between " ye shaadi mat hone dijiye... ye galat hai...anjaliji..unke hone wale pati aur koi nahi balki hamare..." he stops unable to collect the courage to take the name of the man whom this lady worships! " unka dulha aur koi nahi shyam ji hai hai anjaliji.. apke pati..." " kya!" is all she can manage and looses her balance... OP hurriedly gets a glass of water for her..it takes her time to get back to her senses... but she makes a quick move when OP tells her to do something quick as marriage muhurat is 11:00 AM tmrw..

she screams at him.. she refuses to believe him.. but OP doesnt give up... " anjaliji.. aap hamare palanhar hai.. hum aapka bura nahi chahenge.. aap itni achi hai.. ke aapka bura to koi bhi nahi chahega.. hum aapko jaante hai pehchante hai.. apka namak khate hai.. aapse itna bada khooth nahi bolenge ek..ekk baar apni aankho se dekh lijiye.. ek baar waha chaliye.. hum aapko dikha denge.." anjali doesn't understand what to do.. OP acts prompt... and asks driver to take out the car and somehow manages anjali to get in to it...

once they reach Laxmi nagar they park the car somewhere out and take an auto.. and OP stops the auto near khushi's house...anjali and OP wait in the auto for him to come out just in case...and there shyam, buaji, payal and khushi are coming towards their direction... OP immediately.. alerts anjaliji.. and they hide their faces ... as they pass by.. OP gets down by the pretext of buying something and talks to the shopkeeper who just waved a hi to shyam and spoke a line or two.. sounding as if he knew him a little bit more than being an acquaintance... and in this exchange of words between the shopkeeper and OP.. shopkeeper tells them that he has been staying here for almost 3-4 months and he now getting married to khushi tmrw itself... anjali listens to all this from the auto...and tears keep rolling... OP asks the auto driver to take them back to the place where they had parked the car and from there they come back to RM...

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anjali cries.. she cries her heart out but the pain still doesnt' seem to be any less... she closes her eyes...to asks god.. as to why did it turn out to be like this?! the man she loved and treated like god.. how could he cheat on her... how could he break her trust?! how could khushiji do this?!...No khushi .. khushi didn't do this.. she may not know he is my husband.. she never met him firstly...never she recollects...and as the last time i spoke about her marriage i noticed she either wasn't happy about it...she too like me is being deceived...i need to tell chote...

Hiranmayi.......

Part 6

Have seen fate reflect generation to generation..... but anjali never thought her life would be reflection of what happened between their parents. Tears were proving inefficient in washing her pain away, she told the family she’s doing chanting and no one disturb her till she comes down herself in a few hours. she used these hours to release as much pain as she could and understood that her pain was immeasurable but the time to khushi’s wedding muhurat was not.

But did shyam ji cheat on me? What should I make of what I saw and heard today? is it becoz I haven’t been able to conceive or has he lost interest in me? All these if’s and but’s clouded her mind…she struggled with them, but look at my fate she thought! I don’t even have time to cry..i have to do something before all is lost!

Anjali “Chote, how is your day at work?” “ fine di, just meetings lined up, and aman as usual getting on my nerves! So it’s a usual day!” “ chote can you do something for me” said Anjali a lil worried that her heavy voice would give away “you know di, anything for you” in a dark day like today for her..her brother was the light at the end of the tunnel…she could already see light!

“Chote, can you pls send your Jijaji away for some work atleast for a week or so?” arnav gets alert at this ask of Anjali….di who would always want jiju by her side asking hi to be sent away immediately blurts out “di, is everything ok? Did he do something….do you want me to involve the lawyers? “ “ no no! no chote…kya tum bhi” trying to manage “ maine tumse ek choti request kari and tumne to lawyers ko hi bulwa liya! Nahi baba…” I want to surprise him my way..i need him away for a week atleast, you’ll do it na.” “consider it done di” thx chote..ghar atey hi milna mujhe ok…ill tell you my plan”

After a few hours!

“Chote, you are crazy! Itna ghabra gaye….mera plan sunkar mujhe chidhana nahi, ok!” “ ha di pls…aap batao kya baat hai” Anjali could hardly come up with something decent so she at best said “ chote tumhare jiju hamesha busy rehte hai..apna khayal hi nahi rakhte, main chahti hu ke wo ye..ye..brocheure dekho yaha bhejna hai unhe..” she said and faked a blush.

Arnav smiled..and said “ Di really you want him to go for a fortnight yoga retreat in Norway Fjords! “ “chote..i want him to leave by flight….tell him its business only then he’ll go! Call him now”

That evening a very disgruntled Shyam Manohar jha boarded his flight..leaving a very unhappy buaji and a relieved looking khushi gupta back at laxmi nagar

15 days at max Anjali had, to find a her answers and solution.

Hiranmayi......

Part 7

Sanka devi, payalia.....koi toh darwaza kholo...sara kaam hamein hi karna padta hai...A very unhappy buaji ope the door to see the Nani, anjali and lavanya at her door step. "Namaste Namaste ...aap yaha, humein pata nahi tha..ayein, andar ayein..."

E Garima....dekho kaun aya hai....

Garima enters the hall wiping her tears...only to get even more teary to see the raizadas with a gift in their hands.

Nani unware of whats happening asks happening, why does the house n members here dont look happy, " sab theek to hai na, buaji?"

Buaji tells nani all that happened and they all wipe their tears and move towards the room to meet khushi...

anjali ogreets payal, puts a hand on khushi's shoulder "khushiji, app hi sabki himmat hai and sabki muskurahat aap hi wapas lati hai, aap aise gum sum bilkul mat rahiye, aapne pehle bhi dilli mein khudse kuch kar dikhane ka jazba dikhaya hai....apko wo firse dikhana hoga"

khushi looks at anjali and the later hugs khushi with all her might.....

Nani ji asks the family if they would be ok if khushi comes back to work again?

"nahi naniji...ab hum waha kaam nahi karna chahte, humein ab kuch dusra dekhna hai, kya...abhi nahi pata, par kuch aur itna humain pata hai."

raizada visitors share a look, then anjali says " hum khushi ki baat se agree karte hai...par khushiji aap jab hamare liye itna karti hai, toh humein bhi apke liye kuch karne se nahi rokna chahiye, aakhir aap bhi to humein arnav jaise pyaari hai"

Khushi's eyes look around the room at the mention of the name...no, he isnt here....she relaxes and looks back at anjali "aap kya kehna chahti hai anjali ji"

"aap kuch alag karna chahti hai, aur humein apka talent pata hai...khushiji kya aap humein apna ngo chalane mein madat karengi?"

"anjali ji, zaroor..par humein ngo ke barey main kuch nahi pata, humein waisa kaam kabhi nahi kiya, kya aapko cook chahiye ngo ke liye?!"

"Haha..dekha kaise aap bina jaane hi sabke chere pe muskurahat le ayi"

They look around the room to see all smiling at her.

"nahi khushiji, hum shyamji ke saath kuch hafte holidays pe jaa rahe hai, hamari absence main aap ngo ke day to day kaam dekhiyega apki help ke liye log honge and main bhi phone pe avl rahungi, kya kehti hai?"

"Anjaliji, ek baar fir na jaane kaise hum....."

"sshhh, hum ek parivar hai khushiji, chaliye ye sab hogaya, abhi 2.30 baje hai, agar aap 5 baje ghar ajaein to hum aapko ngo ki kuch cheeze bata denge, aur ab to lavanya ji bhi ngo main active hai"

lavanya looked at khushi in glee " ha khushi, tumne mujhe sikhaya, ab meri baari !"

saying this they bid their bye's. Anjali had a plan, a very unsure one...she held on to tiniest threads with full faith and hope....

ji, anjaliji, ha, aaj humne ek shuruat ki aur bahut acha laga... ji, ji. acha ab hum rakhte hai, dusre schools ki list ayi hai wahi dekh rahe the. aap apni trip enjoy kijiye...ji ok, ok, bye"

"Lavanya ji" she slaps on lavanya's hand thats reaching for jalebi's that khushi bought this morning.

" Khushi ye tumahri galati hai ke tumhari haath ki jalebi dekh ke main khud ko rok nahi paati hu"

they were enjoying working together on something more meaningfull to them, it turned out that raizadas were actively involved in education n nutrition of many underfunded schools, she worked from home for 2 days but then work eventually got her out of home...and here she was in the other living room at raizada mansion with a phone and many paper's around her.

"khushi, what is that?!"

"Kya, lavanyaji"

"you still have your ring on..."

Her thoughts went back in time....

"anjaliji, aapne humein intne ache samjaya ke hum easily handle karlengey, aap aaram se apni chutiyan enjoy kare"

"app hai hi itni smart ke zyada time hi nahi laga, waise hum kuch kahe agar aapko bura na lage"

khushi was hesitant to open up any can of worms...but this was anjali, everyone's well wisher...so she nodded.

They walked....as anjali shared her experience and then anjali held her shoulder and gently turned her, held her left hand and said " khushiji, kabhie kabhie humein unkahin sunne ki koshish karni chahiye....jo dikhta hia wo hamesha sahi to nahi hota na...?

"hum...hum kuch samjhe nahi....aap kya keh rahi hai"

"aapko sab nahi pata kuhshiji, par kuch kuch to pata hai....aur koshish kijiye, dekhiye aapke aas paas kya hai...aap samajh jaengi" kept rubbing khushi's ring finger for a sec longer n left.

khushi found herself by the pool, and asr talking to lavanya but looking at her.

The ring was still on her finger, well technically shyam ji was going to be back, things were only postponed and not cancelled, yes he hadn't called, not even buaji, but he was still her fiance. So the ring was there....though it had nothing to do with shyam anymore, afterall he never put a ring on her left finger...it wasn't even his ring anymore...It was of the man with stormy eyes.

" aapko pata hai lavanya ji,Shyam ji had to leave urgently baaki sab.." she couldn's complete the sentence as ASR waslked in aman and other men.

Arnav glanced at khushi a second longer before asking lavanya "Lavanya, where is nani? "nani is in the garden, relaxing, do you want to meet her?"

" Can you please arrange for seating there, and can you inform nani that me n others will be joining her, thanks lavanya...i'll be there in 15mins" arnav n those along with him walk away leaving khushi alone in the hall.

In the garden -

"nani..." arnav greets her while hand gesturing his team to sit.

"nani, aapne kaha tha na ke aap nanaji ki barsi pe school's ke liye kuch karna chahti hai..yeh meri team hai nani, aap kya karna chahti hai agar humain bataein...to hum usse kaise aur maximum reach ke hisab se plan kar sakte hai."

"bahut badiya chotte, ek min hum "hari prakash, Lavanya aur khushi bitiyan ko yaha bhej dijiye"

in a minute both ladies walk in and lavanya picks the seat next to nani...and by chance the only seat left is next to arnav.

She decides to stand and continues discussion standing in between nani and lavanya's chair, but they insist that they cannot let her stand all through out the discussion so they force her to sit....and she relents.''

arnav is watching her..nothing is missed and this is why he is pissed, and as he is trying to ignore her...she trips and trips bad. her face almost about to hit the edge of the table....

"KHUSHI! what the hell" jus in nick of time he is able to save her face from hitting the table and grabs her falling ...." he helps her stand and rest all get startled by the seriousness of what happened.

arnav grabs her and gathers her to himself while khushi is just startled by what was about to happen,...she was so aware of the fall and the table edge, she just froze..and gazed at arnav in that state...

"Khushi"...arnav saw the look in her eyes looking at him but not present in the moment....and his other hand came up held her chin calling her name....and when she did't respond he pat her cheek....when she looked at him, aware of what was happening......" r u ok?" he asked the palm cupping her face now...

so close...so close... she could feel his breath as he called her out, then she felt a palm holding her and the grip tightened further....they kept looking at one another...

but there were others looking at them, Nani holding tearful lavanya's hand and a stern look on her face.

Hiranmayi....

" hum ye charcha fir kabhi rakhengey, aap abhi jaa sakte hai, aane ke liye dhanyavad" nani said to the men and they left.

they heard this too and both froze for a few seconds in awareness of being so close to each other and then having nani...nani witness this. they sprang apart.

"khushi bitiya, aap ghar jaiye, humein apki zarurat hogi to hum bulalengey" Khushi whose eyes were down cast nodded and immediately left the scene.

arnav heard it and frowned as nani's said "aapki zarurat hogi toh bulalengey" but he kept silent.

After khushi left, Nani took lavanya gently to her room and returned to her room a little later.

-------------------------------------------

"anjali bitiya, kaisi hai aap, aapki enjoy to kar rahi hai na....."

Ha, nani..inke saath itna time spend karke bahut acha lag raha hai..." " baut time baad pehle jaisi feeling ayi hai"

"bahut achi baat hai bitiya, aap aur daamad ji ek dusre se prem karte hai , aapke aatein hi hum aapki nazar uttarengey"

"Nanni..hum yaha thoda lamba rukne ki soch rahe hai...."

"Bitiyan...hum apko itna khush dekhke bahut khush hai, par hamein apki zarurat hai...kya aap agle hafte wapas aa sakti hai? "

"kya hua nani..aapki tabiyat to theek hai, arnav ne mujhe kuch batay bhi nahi...."

"nahi bitiyan, baat hamari nahi hai, par humein aapki zarurat hai"

"nani, kya hum khushi ji se keh sakte hai aapki jo bhi zarurat hai wo madad kardey?"

"nahi bitiyan...khushi bitiyan se aap koi baat na karein abhi....aap bhi abhi unse kuch mat kahiyega , kya aap apni nani ki baat nahi manengi?"

"nahi nani..aisa kuch nahi hai.. nanni..hum aapko kal jawab de to chalega?"

"Zarur bitiya, hum apke phone ka wait karengey"

Hiranmayi..