Chapter 7
What are these feelings?
Khushi woke up to the sound of her Devi Maiyya ringtone with a start.
"Haan Babuji...hum theek hain...aap kaise hain...aap dawaai samay sa le rahe hain na...(Yes babuji...I am fine...how are you...are you taking your medicines on time...)," Khushi talked excitedly on the phone to her Babuji.
At the other end Shashi Gupta smiled at her daughter's incessant questions.
His sister Madhumati gestured to him to give the phone to her.
"Arrey Sanka Devi, Shivji ki pooja theek se ki thi ke naahi?! (Sanka Devi, had you done Shivji's pooja properly?!)"
"Uff -ho Buaji, pooja ko to teen din ho gaye! Par hummey yaad hai ki uss din hummey bahut bhook lagi thi! (Uff-ho Buaji! Its been three days since the pooja! But I remember I was very hungry that day!) " Khushi pouted.
"Shivji chahengey to agle saal tumra pati apne haathon se tumhe khana khilayega, Titaliya! (If Lord Shiva so desires, then next year your husband will feed you with his own hands, Titaliya!)
The image of Arnav carrying her to the SUV and feeding her the laddu, the prasad rose unbidden to her mind. She remembered how he had held a glass of water to her lips to quench her thirst. She remembered smiling and staring deep into his brown pools and wondering what was the strange soft look in his eyes... But she was too exhausted to ask and snuggled contently in his arms.
"Khushi ? Khushi?" the sound of Payal's voice on her mobile brought Khushi out of her reverie.
"Haan Jiji! Hum hain yahan! (Yes Jiji/sister, I am here!)" Khushi cleared her throat.
"Tum theek ho na Khushi? Does Arnav behave properly with you?"
"Yes, yes, Jiji, don't worry. Everyone thinks he is a bad sort but he is not like that..." Khushi said in a quiet voice.
"Okay Khushi. Will you come home for Holi?" Payal asked her younger sister.
"I don't know Jiji. The party is the next day after holi, so...I will tell you know later Jiji. I am hanging up now."
Why did she feel sad at the thought of leaving the farmhouse...Maybe Arnav's odd behavior was responsible...she thought restlessly, pacing the room.
Every day after Shivratri Arnav had been leaving for office early and returning late in the evening. And then too he always remained busy on his laptop after dinner.
He refused to discuss her renovation plans, dismissing her with a stiff, "You are good at your work Khushi. Its progressing well. I can't understand what you want from me!"
Khushi did not know whether to thank him for the compliment or to be angry with him for this abrupt change. Laad Governor!
"Why do come back at all Arnav? Why don't you stay in your office?" she had huffed yesterday at him as he sat in the veranda tapping away on the keys of his laptop.
"You are my responsibility," he said in an impassive voice.
"And what about my security. You had said you would not leave me alone."
"Khushi if you haven't noticed, I appointed two security guards to take care of that aspect," he said without looking up from his laptop screen.
"But I don't want them!" Khushi stamped her foot on the wooden planks of the veranda. She almost blurted out I want you!' But then bit her lips. What in Devi Maiyya's name did she mean, she wanted him...?!
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Anjali saw Shyam entering through the main door in Raizada Mansion and limped up to him and hugged him.
Shyam hugged her back and said, "I have come back to you Rani Sahiba! Ab to bataiye kya baat hai? (Now tell me what did you want to tell me?)"
Anjali looked up at his smiling face and whispered, " Shyamji, you are going to be a father soon."
"Kya? Sachh Rani Sahiba? (Really? Rani Sahiba?)"
Anjali nodded her head shyly.
Shyam hugged her tightly.
Behind her back Shyam smiled slyly. To extend my family I have to thwart yours Saale Sahab. And soon I will take over all your property, wait and see...
"Rani Sahiba let us go to the farmhouse during Holi and share this happiness with Arnav."
"Oh! That's a great idea Shyamji! Chhotey will be so happy. He wanted to tell you right away about my pregnancy but I stopped him."
"Errr...Rani Sahiba I hear he is not alone in the farmhouse..." Shyam said casually.
Before he could finish the sentence, Anjali grinned, "Oh yes, Khushi is with him...you remember Diwanji? Khushi is Diwanji's younger daughter...Dadi wanted Khushi to help Chhotey redecorate the party hall in the farmhouse."
Shyam was astounded! Now what game is Dadi upto, winced Shyam! How come Ajit chacha(uncle) doesn't know about this.
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Khushi was standing in the middle of the hall admiring her handiwork. The hall had been thoroughly cleaned. The full length Belgian glass window panes opening to the garden were sparkling. The lapuzzi coloured Italian marble on the floor gave the room a classic look. The walls had been painted oyster grey, with self- designed swirls in a grainy texture. The entire effect was that of a churning blue sea. The play of overhead lights were set in a way to give the sea its blue calmness and its grey storm.
All she needed was light silk, swishing down like waves from the magnificent chandelier in the middle, to all corners of the octagonal blue hall. ...
...The sea...that is what Arnav means...
Khushi slapped her forehead...why did I think of ...
She gasped. He was standing there leaning against the door , his legs crossed, his arms folded staring at her intently.
"Oh!You gave me a scare! What are you doing here?" Khushi voice was more sharp and accusing than she intended.
"Dadi had called.Two more days before the big party Khushi. So I thought if I could be of some help." Arnav said spreading his hands.
"Oh how magnanimous of you!" Khushi said sarcastically, "But tell Dadi not to worry. I have everything under MY control, thanks to you!"
"Angry are we?" Arnav smirked.
" Why should I be?" Khushi huffed. "But since you are here will you take me to the store to choose the right colour for the drapes. I don't quite like doing the selection online."
"Sure..." drawled Arnav.
"How sweet!" Khushi flashed him a mocking smile as she swept past him.
Khushi was actually glad Arnav had got her to the store. It took her only ten minutes before she found the colour in her mind. It was a shade of blue like a sea gone rough...like him. Uff! Devi Maiyya why does everything boil down to him!
On their way back to the farmhouse, Arnav thrust a large pizza box in her hands,"I guess you haven't eaten," he murmured.
"Hmm...Thanks!" Khushi grinned at him and opened the box immediately, forgetting she was angry with him.
Arnav looked at her taking a big hungry bite and smiled. He pressed the accelerator with gusto as they reached the highway.
He hesitated slightly before saying, "I have been wanting to tell you Khushi, you will make a fine interior decorator one day,"
"Yay!!You think so?!" Khushi exclaimed excitedly.
Arnav nodded his head.
"Do you know Dadaji had actually designed the hall as a nursery for me! " Arnav smiled a lopsided smile.
Khushi turned in her seat, her face glowing. "Really? Such a huge nursery? What fun! I would love my children to have a room to themselves...you know I simply adore kids and... "
"Okay stop. You have subjected me to this torture earlier...four babies and what not!" he rolled his eyes.
Khushi had just turned to him with a preaching "Arrey, I don't know why you don't like kids..." when Arnav put the brakes on suddenly and Khushi was thrown out of her seat.
"What! Will you kill me now? Just because I like babies?" Khushi cried.
"Shut up, Khushi. Stop being melodramatic! Can't you see why I had to break suddenly?"
Khushi glanced at the windscreen.A man was standing in the middle of the road waving his hands frantically.
"You stay here. Don't come out. Let me see what the man wants." Arnav instructed Khushi.
He stepped out of the SUV and the man ran to him, his face was ashen.
"What's up bro?!" Arnav said putting his hand on the man's shoulder.
"Our taxi has broken down ," the guy said pointing to the car on the other side of the road. "I know you are going the other way but can you please take us to the city hospital. My wife is in labour!"
It took a minute for Arnav to register exactly what the man was saying. "What the! She is going to have a baby... now?"
"Okay, come on! Let me see what I can do!" he said breaking into a run across the road towards the stranded cab.
Khusi was amazed to see Arnav run to the other side of the road, only to emerge carrying a woman in his arms, with a man following him.
"Hey Devi Maiyya," she gasped as Arnav gestured to her to open the back door of the SUV.
Arnav laid the woman gently in the back seat of the car.
Khushi clapped her hands in enthusiasm and grinned at the woman, "Aww! You are going to have a baby, aren't you?"
A sweet smile spread across the woman's face as she looked at Khushi's bright face.
"Are you comfortable ma'am?" Arnav voice was laced with concern.
She nodded her head. Her husband slipped in besides her.
"It will take us at least 45 minutes to reach the hospital," Arnav said to the man jumping into the driver's seat and quickly fastening his seat belt.
The man mopped his brow and introduced himself as Gangadhar and his wife as Kamla. Khushi was surprised to know that they lived in the same village that was near the farmhouse. The man owned a grocery store there while his wife, the daughter of the village head, taught young children in the village school. Gangadhar was on his way to admit his wife to the city hospital when their cab developed a snag.
Khushi had just accepted Gangadhar's invitation to join the Holi celebrations at the village, when Kamla screamed in pain and clutched her stomach. She gasped for breath and once again shrieked in pain as Gangadhar tried to calm her down.
Khushi stared wide-eyed at the woman and her mouth took the shape of a big O. Khushi was panic stricken as Kamla cried out again. Khushi clamped her hand to her mouth. Her stomach churned. She felt giddy.
"Hey Devi Maiyya! Kamla Didi ki raksha karo!(Hey DM! Protect Kamla didi!)" Khushi said.
"Khushi!Khushi?! Tum theek ho?!" Arnav shook her shoulders, his eyes clouding with concern.
" Itna dard!! Humse nahi sahan hoga!!!!(I will not be able to bear so much pain.) I have changed my mind Arnav. I will not have babies," Khushi mumbled in a stupor. "Aur chaar to kabhi nahi!! (And four never!)" she whispered fiercely, her eyes watery.
Arnav cocked up his eyebrows. Only a few minutes back she was preaching him the merits of having children! And all her years of resolve vanished in minutes because she saw a woman in labour! She was such a specimen! He couldn't laughing out loud!
"Shut up, Arnav!" Khushi tried to sush him angrily. But he was now in splits.
Gangadhar, who had heard Khushi, smiled at the exchange between the beautiful couple. He addressed Khushi, "Are you feeling scared seeing my wife in such a state? But it's only natural. Moreover, the two of you will make such lovely children," he said in a matter of fact tone.
Arnav stopped laughing and glanced at Khushi. She caught his eye and turned red. Both understood that Gangadhar had made a wrong asssumption about their relationship and should be corrected. But neither did!
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The next chapter will be on Holi ! Happy Holi to those celebrating!
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Cricket
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