Dear friends⭐️ thanks again for your huge response on the last chapter. It is your love and encouragement that makes me write on and on...😳
Chapter 31
The Unexpected!
Arnav's jaw dropped open and his brown eyes widened with surprise! Had he heard right! Had khushi just proposed marriage to him! Her shocked expression told him she had done just that!
Her lips shaped a big O', her hazel eyes huge like saucers filled with fear as he stared at her unblinkingly giving nothing away.
Hey Devi Maiyya what have I done!
Everyone close to him knew that ever since his father's betrayl of his mother he had come to disregard the institution of marriage. He must be furious with her for saying such a stupid thing to him she thought.
Searching his impassive face for a violent reaction she stammered, "Arnav...I didn't mean...Arnav...I..."
And suddenly his body shook with mirth and he burst out laughing!
"You...are...unbelievable," he guffawed clutching on to his stomach.
Khushi stood still for a few seconds too dazed to react. And then she smiled at him slowly at first and then widely relieved that he had not taken her seriously!
Well there was no reason to take her seriously as she had not really meant it! Or had she!
Khushi pushed the thought to the back of her mind immediately and concentrated on the mesmerising happy sound emerging from his throat. His head thrown back, his brown eyes sparling with merriment...he looks so good like this she thought, not Laad governor at all!
"I know you didn't mean it...marriage and me!" Arnav grinned at her and shook his head vigorously.
And suddenly an emptiness filled Khushi...her heart sank...she did not know why...she just wanted to go away...far away from him.
To him it was all a joke! He was not serious, he did not want her to stay with him!
Tears stung her eyes and she turned away abruptly and headed towards the door.
"Khushi! Khushi!"Arnav called after her. "What's happened to you suddenly?"
But she was in no mood to listen to him anymore and kept walking away.
"What the!" Arnav muttered under his breath and in one stride he was besides her. He yanked her to him and she hit his chest hard.
"Khushi! Don't look away when I am talking to you dammit!" he was furious, his eyes blazing into hers.
"Let me go Arnav!" Khushi struggled against him as she tried to fight him as well as her tears.
Arnav was bewildered. "What is wrong Khushi? Is it something I said?" he asked her, his voice gentler.
No it is what you did not say, a voice inside her said.
Hey Devi Maiyya, what am I thinking! Khushi could not move as if a thunderbolt had struck her. She stared at Arnav with the strangest expression on her face.
"What the Khushi! What is it? Now you are really scaring me!" Arnav was highly concerned.
With all her strength Khushi pushed him away and ran out of the room. Arnav staggered back! "Ajeeb!(Strange!)," he stared after her flabbergasted.
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Aakash wiped the beads of perspiration trickling down his neck and backed out of the ransacked hotel room. He took the steps two at a time and in no time he was outside. He looked all around but saw nothing suspicious.
He hurried to the main road and joined the sea of people. He kept on walking, head down, hands in his jacket pocket...it had been a lucky escape he thought thanks to Payalji.
If he hadn't stepped out with her, there was no saying what would have happened. Would the intruders have shredded him to pieces like they had to his suitcase? Aakash shuddered.
Or had they taking advantage of his absence come searching for something in the hotel room. But what? Maybe they wanted to verify his identity. And then what? Aakash shook his head confused as a fear gripped him. He withdrew his phone and quickly punched in a number.
"Hello hi bye bye!" a voice floated in from the other end.
"Maa!" Aakash had never been so glad to hear his mother's trademark greeting before!
"How are all of you, Maa? Everything okay?" Aakash could not keep the restless concern out of his voice.
"Arrey Aakash bitwa! Bhers are youz! I am bhecuming thin in your bhaiting...no needz to go to the gym! (Aakash, son, where are you? I am growing thin waiting for you and now there is no need to go to the gym!)," Manorama shrieked.
Aakash almost dropped his phone as his mother's shrill voice nearly shattered his eardrum. Yet he smiled. His mother was in full form and that meant no harm had come to his family in Kolkata!
"Take care of yourself, Babuji and Naniji Maa because I am still in Delhi," he answered in relief.
"Par bhy? Plane misswa hui gaya kiya? (But why? Have you missed the plane?) " Manorama shrieked again.
"No Maa..." he said, " I have some important work to do. I will come after I finish that..."
"Bhaat wark?(What work?) Haven't you met them..." Manorama asked him curiously.
Aaksh stopped her by interjecting, "Maa I can't say anything on the phone just tell Naniji and Babuji not to worry. I am fine. All of you please take care of yourselves. I have to go now. I will call you later from another number." And Aakash disconnected the line and threw away his sim card.
He adjusted his spectacles over his nose and pursed his lips. He was not going to run away as the Malliks wanted! He was after all Arnav Singh Raizada's brother!
Thank God he had all his money and important documents in his pockets he thought. He now had to chalk out his next course of action.
It was essential that he get in touch with Di and Bhai as soon as possible and take them to meet Nani so that she could tell them her secret.
But how?
There was only one answer to the problem he thought...Payalji.
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Hey Devi Maiyya! Khushi ran out of Arnav's room and down the stairs. Her heart raced at an equal pace! How dare the Laad Governor ask her to stay with him...just like that!
He and his high fangled ideas! Hey Devi Maiyya, in which world does he live!
And he has the audacity to make fun of me! Angrez laad governor kahin ka!
If Buaji ever heard of his proposal she will cut me into small pieces, pour oil and chillies over me and make an achhar(pickle) out of me and also chew me with glee!!
Suddenly her phone rang! Kushi stared at her phone. It was Payal.
"Yes Jiji?" she panted into the phone, slowing her pace.
"Khushi where are you?" Payal sounded agitated.
"What happened Jiji? Is everything okay? You sound distraught!"
"Well...something has come up...umm...we have to help someone..."
"Who Jiji? What kind of help?"
"I will tell you when you come home Khushi!" Payal disconnected the line.
Jiji sounded mysterious, Khushi thought screwing up her eyes.
From the corner of her eyes she saw Arnav strolling down the stairs, one hand in sling, the other in his trouser pocket. Hey Devi Maiyya!
She quickly ran into the living room where her Babuji was chatting with Anjali di.
"Babuji I have to rush home. Something has come up!" Khushi gushed
"But bitiya I haven't seen the files Arnav bitwa wants me to...did you get them from his room?"
"Err...no Babuji, " she turned red at the thought of what had transpired between her and Arnav in his room, "But HP will get it for you...I have to rush..."
"Babuji will you be able to come home on your own?" she inquired. She glanced furtively behind her and was relieved to see that he had been stalled by a phone call.
Anjali saw her line of gaze and smiled inwardly.
"I will get Diwanji dropped, don't worry Khushi. But what is the hurry? Arnav wanted to explain business matters to you and Diwanaji..."
"No, no...Khushi startled. "Okay bye Anjali di, Babuji!"
"I have heard enough from the Laad Governor for today..."she muttered to herself.
And without another word she dashed off to the main door and was out of RM in the blink of an eye!
"Where did Khushi go?" Arnav asked curiously as he sauntered into the room.
"She had to go..." Anjali said softly watching her brother's reaction.
She was not disappointed. Arnav's face fell. She is avoiding me again he thought.
Shashi Gupta got up from the sofa and approached Arnav "I know you wanted her to help you with your work. But let her be today, bitwa. Poor girl had a bad day!"
Arnav's eyes darkened with concern.
"Oh! What happened Diwanji?" Anjali mirrored her brother's thought.
"She has called off her marriage with Pankaj," Shashi Gupta said resignedly.
"Oh really?" Anjali could not keep the joy out of her voice.
But she quickly rectified herself... "I mean, how sad, how sad...to get married is every girl's dream..." she said in a dreamy voice.
"Every girl's dream?" Arnav interjected, "Really?" he smirked.
"Of course it is Chhotey! Every girl including Khushi dreams of a husband who will love her deeply and take care of her hamesha (forever)..."
"Yes, that is true...a good husband!" Shashi Gupta reiterated with a vigorous nod of his head.
"Unbelievable!" Arnav muttered under his breath.
Is that all a girl dreams of...he winced! Marriage! A good husband! What the! Is that why Khushi ran away from him! Had she really meant this marriage thing! Is that all that mattered! Even today in 2014! Really he would never understand women!
"Chhotey, Chhotey!!" Di's voice interrupted his train of thought!
"Yes Di were you saying something?" Arnav turned to her in confusion.
She smiled at him knowingly and repeated, "Chhotey I was wondering if you would like to drop Diwanji to his home! Since your arm is fractured Mohan can drive the car."
"Arrey nahi Anjali bitiya, I can go home on my own. Don't worry..."
"No no Diwanji," Arnav was quick to react, he could not miss this chance to see Khushi! He needed to sort out this issue with her.
"It is not a problem at all. Come I will drop you home, Diwanji," he said avoiding Anjali's teasing eyes.
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Shyam entered Sheehmahal in trepidation!
Dadi had sounded furious over the phone and demanded that he see her as soon as possible. Wonder what had happened!
He saw her descending the huge marble staircase and stood still.
"Is that you Shyam? Subhadra Mallik squinted her eyes as she reached ground level.
"Y...yes Dadi, Shyam stammered.
"How come you came so fast? I phoned you half an hour ago only!"
"I ...I came to Lucknow yesterday Dadiji!"
"To meet that girl...Sheela? Does your wife know?" Subhadra inquired condescendingly.
"I...err..." Shyam stammered again.
"Look Shyam," Subhadra's temper soared. "Stop running after girls and concentrate on your wife! Do you remember I had got you married to Anjali so that you could be my eyes in Raizada Mansion. But you have failed miserably, And above all you have lost all control over your wife...
"But...Shyam tried to defend himself.
"Shut up Shyam! Do you know what she did! She threatened me at my Delhi house in the morning today! Can you imagine that! That nonentity dared me not to touch her brother again or..."
"Rani saahiba threatened you!" Shyam's jaw literally fell to the ground.
"But what can she possibly know to threaten you with!" Shyam asked Dadi incredulously.
Shyam saw a strange wild look in Dadi's eyes for a split second and then it was gone!
"Nothing! She knows nothing!" Dadi pursed her lips.
"I think maybe she has come to know that you were responsible for Arnav's accident! That must be it!" she accused Shyam
"But but how can she possibly know that!" Shyam cried.
"You should know better! She is your wife! Go home, instead of avoiding her and Arnav! And find out what they are up to!"
"The last I knew Rani saahiba was trying to ge in touch with that cousin of theirs from Kokata, Aakash!"
Dadi gave a short laugh. "Aakash! I have given him such a scare that he will flee and never bother to contact Arnav and Anjali again!"
"What did Devyani Raizada think! She can fool me and defeat me, Subhadra Rani Mallik!" she muttered to herself. "She will never dare send anyone to meet Arnav Anjali again!"
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Arnav's car stopped in front of Khushi's house. Arnav peered at the house. No lights were on inside the house! That meant Khushi was not home yet! Where was she?
Shashi Gupta remarked, "That's strange! There seems to be no one in the house! Madhumati jiji ha gone to a satsang(prayer meet) but where are the girls?
Anyway...Please why don't you come in Arnav bitwa."
"No thanks Diwanji...Arnav said.
Arnav got down from the car and helped him out and walked him to the doorstep.
"Thank you bitwa!," hashi Gupta smiled up at him. "And don't worry I will have Khushi look at these files with me, " he said pointing to the files under his arm.
Arnav just nodded nd wished him goodnight and turned back to his waiting car.
The car had just left the lane when Arnav noticed a figure dash out from behind a shop into the main street, a figure he could recognize anywhere.
Khushi!
He instructed Mohan to stop the car besides her.
"Where are you going!" he barked at her, putting out his head
Khushi jumped out of her skin!
"You!" she screamed. Uff! Why was it so difficult to get rid of him Devi Maiyya!
"Stop screaming like a chudail (witch) and get in!" he ordered her.
"Why should I?" she folded her arms and scowled at him.
He smirked at her! "So would you rather I told your Babuji that you were hiding from him and was trying to slink away somewhere...
"I am not!" Khushi said furiously and then yanking the car door slipped on to the pulsh backseat with him.
"Even as a kid you were always a tell tale Arnav Singh Raizada!" she glared at him.
Arnav threw back his head and laughed, "No Khushi Kumari Gupta! If you remember correct, I always tried to save you from trouble! And you were always prone to trouble!
"So where were you going now?! Some weird secret mission of yours undoubtedly! Inspired by that intolerable crime tv reporter Kamelesh khabri surely!" Arnav raised an eyebrow and smirked at her!
"Uff! Nothing like that! Jiji wants me to meet someone and she told me to ensure that no one absolutely no one was following me!" Khushi huffed.
"Payal said that..." Arnav said in a thoughtful voice. "I hope she is not in some sort of trouble!"
"Hey Devi Maiyya I never thought of that!"
"That is understandable Khushi because your brain never grew. It is still the brain of a ten year old!" He rolled his eyes.
"Anyway now that I am here I am not letting you go anywhere alone, samjhi tum (understand)?" His tone was possessive and Khushi committed the grave error of looking up at him.
Immediately she felt herself drowning in soft warm pools of chocolate brown that seemed to say so many things at a time. His warm breath fanned her face, his eyes locked into hers and his gaze dropped to her lips inches away from his.
Khushi gulped and looked away hoping the pounding in her heart hadn't given her away.
She was secretly glad to have Arnav with her. There was no denying that since childhood she had always felt safe with him, she could always rely on him when in trouble and Jiji seemed to be in a bad spot.
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Aakash looked up at the huge tree above him and then at the girl sitting beide him on the bench in the park.
"Thank you Payalji. This is delicious!" Aakash smiled at Payal as he tucked into the aloo paranthas she had brought for him in a tiffin box.
"I thought you might be hungry, you probably haven't eaten all day..." Payal smiled back.
"Yes I was...ravenous!" Aakash nodded .
"I don't even know how to thank you for what you are doing for me!"
"Then don't ..."Payal said shyly. And anyway you are no stranger, you are Anjali di's cousin."
"Payal ji are you sure your sister will be able to connect me with Bhai and Di!! If it hadn't been important I wouldn't have bothered you...!"
"I know, Aakash ji! Khushi will be here soon! From what you told me it is obvious that some people don't want you to meet Arnav and Anjali ji! All of you must get to the bottom of this. But please please be careful..."her voice trailed off.
"Are you worried about me Payal..ji?" Aakash said softly.
But Payal did not hear him.
She was looking behind his shoulder with an astonished look on her face!
"Hey Devi Maiyya! He is here!"
"Who?" Aakash scrunched his eyes.
"Your brother Arnav! He just walked into the park with Khushi!"
"What!!" Aakash jumped up as he saw a tall handsome man and a pretty girl approaching them.
Incredible! Most unexpected! He had always thought he would meet Anjali di first! And here was his bhai (brother) walking towards him! Aakash stared with bated breath, his heart pounding, his eyes moist!
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More?😃 I haven't written!😛 So wait for the next update dear friend! But Arshi relationship will go uphill from here, and there will be a general building up of the story to a climax, I promise.😃 Love you all. Take care.😃
Thanks for your valuable likes😃 and comments😃 in advance. 🤗
Edited by wiwy - 10 years ago
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