INDEX
THREAD #1: CHAPTERS 1 TO 16
THIS THREAD:
CHAPTER 17 - PAGE 1
CHAPTER 18- PAGE 11
CHAPTER 19-PAGE 20
CHAPTER 23 - PAGE 82
A/n: Finally... Finally I have been able to get this chapter updated. Lots of excuses... but I am here finally.
This phase of the story is very critical for me. It walks us through that phase of a relationship when you think there is none, but you surprise yourself when you realise that there "is" a relationship. It is more than an acquaintance, far deeper than a comfortable camaraderie, different from a friendship but not yet love.
The teaser Betrayals and Consequences will be depicted across several updates. This being the first one.
And thankyou!! thankyou!! thankyou!! for showering so much love that I am starting a second thread. Didnt really expect this.I hope you would continue to be kind enough and excuse me for this unpardonable delay. I hope you will continue to stay with me through this story.
Thankyou and love you all. Here goes the next chapter.
CHAPTER 17
</p>
BETRAYAL AND CONSEQUENCES - SECTION 1
5 MONTHS SINCE ARNAVJI AND KAKA HAD
FALLEN SICK
What is a family? Khushi
saw the title of the article she was reading on the internet. She sighed and
dwelled on the matter. We all know what a family constitutes. But shouldn't the
question really be "Who" is family? A person does not become family just
because you share common dna. Isn't a person a family, if he is the first one
you think about when you are in a desperate situation; Who will take your
comments in a stride; At whom you can yell at and still nothing would change
between the two of you; Who gets you even in your silence. And isn't a person
family when it bothers you to no end when he is upset and angry with you not
for a day or two, but for two whole months.
As of today,
it had been two whole months since Arnavji had not spoken to her. She had gone
over the events of the past over and over again a million times. But even after
two months, she could not arrive at the exact event which had made him so angry
at her that their relationship had taken a full 180 degree turn. From a close
acquaintances, they met like strangers. And like any other moment in her life
nowadays, she went over the events in the last 5 months again.
<p align="center">***</p>
Since the
time when both Arnavji and Kaka had fallen sick, she had visited the two of
them on almost all weekends. Around 10 AM on each day.
Once she
overslept and arrived two hours later. Arnavji opened the door swiftly as soon
as she rung the door-bell.
"Why are you so late? Couldn't you
have called me?"
"I over-slept." She said casually, wiping her shoes
on the door-mat.
"So? You should have called and let us
know that you will be delayed. You don't have a mobile phone either."
"What kind of a question is that Sir?
How can anyone call when they are sleeping?" She moved past him and walked towards the kitchen.
"Don't you know how many hours you
would be sleeping, before you go to bed? Coming to that you should have
informed me yesterday night."
He gave her an earful.
"And what are you searching on the
floor?" He asked, seeing
her searching for something.
"Ek Screw."
"Screw?"
"Haan. Aap hi ka hain. Lagta hain ki
gir gaya. Its no where here. I think we should search for it in your room."
"Excuse me?"
"Excused." She turned her back to him. Smiled.
And walked to the kitchen. "Kaka. Is
there something to eat. Zor se bhook lagi hain"
"One minute bitiya. Let me re-heat it.
It has become cold."
"Theek hain. Waise, what's with Sir
today? Why is he acting so weird?"
"Arey, he has been fretting for over
an hour now. He was asking me "Where is that Qabootari?"
"Hawww... Me and Qabootari. Then he is a
Khada Khamba (Straight Pole)."
"What did you just say?"
"Didn't you hear?"
"I didn't, that's why I am asking."
"Then good. Bachgayi. Did you want
coffee?"
"That'll be good. Its already delayed
by two hours."
He went back
to his work.
<p align="center">***</p>
ONE MONTH LATER
Anjaliji had
arrived. And the one week that she had stayed, they had a blast. Sarita took
them to every good chaat shop she knew, which were pretty much all of them in
the city. And they would eat till they could not swallow even a drop of water.
On the day
before Anjaliji was travelling back, Payal had come to visit Khushi. And
Anjaliji had invited them all for a stay over. Arnavji was travelling and would
arrive later in the evening.
<p align="center">***</p>
When Arnav and
Aman stepped out of the lift, they heard a faint noise. It was some music mixed
with what could only be called braying by several girls.
As they
walked towards the door, it became more and more clear that the noise was from
his own house. And when Arnav dived in his key and opened the door, the full
volume hit them. They went inside and quickly closed the door, lest the
neighbors should complain.
And both
their jaws dropped to the floor at the sight in front of them.
Di/Anjali was
dancing on the center table. Khushi and two other girls going around it. Rest
of the furniture was moved away to make space for them. The volume of the TV
was probably at its maximum.
Haye re aise tarse humko
ho gaye sau arse re
Sookhe dil pe megha banke
teri nazariya barse re..
...
</i>
<i>
What's my name?
what's my name?
what's my name?
My name is Sheila, Sheila ki Jawani
I am too sexy for you
Main tere haath na aani
No no no no Sheila, Sheila ki Jawani
I am too sexy for you
Main tere haath na aani
Unable to see
his own sister in this new Avatar, Arnav bent his head down and made way
through the scattered furniture to his room.
Aman never
knew this facet of Anjali and it was nothing but feast for his eyes. He stay
put enjoying every bit of it.
Soon, this
was followed by Nagada song from Jab we met. The Punjabi instinct in all of
them came to the fore. Aman joined the girls and they danced like there was no
tomorrow. Aman and Anjali forgot the world.
"Unbelievable" Arnav was able to hear even Aman's
voice join the braying.
And then, in
slightly manageable voice decibels, they started to sing in chorus
Moochhon ko thoda round
ghumake
Anna ke jaisa chashma lagake
Coconut me lassi milake
Aa jaao sare mood banake
All the Rajini fans - Thalaivar
Don't miss the chance - Thalaivar
All the Rajini fans - Thalaivar
Don't miss the chance - Do This!
Lungi dance, lungi
dance... And then they were back to their loud selves.
That's it. He
had to put an end to this. The neighbours would definitely complain now.
When he
stepped out, he almost fainted at the sight in front of him.
Kaka emerged
from the kitchen with a towel tied on his head, a pakora plate in one of his
hand. He was not only singing "lungi dance lungi dance" but also
imitating the dance step just like the rest of them. And with full zest he made
his way to the center of the dance party, but stopped mid-way. Dropping his
lungi down, and removing the towel on his head, he quickly took the remote and
switched off the TV.
"Kaka..." All of them turned and shouted at
him. But shut up almost immediately.
"Arey, when did he come?" Anjali whispered.
"We arrived together." Aman enlightened.
"What?" Anjali and Khushi gasped. "Why didn't you tell us before?" Anjali
pinched him discreetly.
"I forgot. You were way too sexy." Aman winked.
Khushi kept
quiet, embarrassed. Why was Amanji talking like this? Anjali covered her open
mouth with her palm, and pinched him again.
"Kaka, why did you switch of the TV?" Payal complained. "Give me the remote, I will start it." She
walked towards him.
"Chutki, stop. We have danced enough
for the day." Khushi
joined her.
"Kya Jiji, I haven't watched TV since
Kaka moved here."
Payal whined.
"Chutki, Arnavji is here." Khushi whispered.</b>
<b>"Toh kya hua. I am sure he would also
want to join us. Hain na Arnavji."
"Chup. Chalo..." She pulled Payal to join back her
group.
"Waise bhi, he is stiff like a Khada
Khamba (Straight Pole)."
Khushi remarked. "Wouldn't be able to
move a bone. Koi gana chalega to sirf, what the what the boltey reh jaayenge."
They all giggled.
"Kya kaha tumne?"
Their smiles
dropped. Khushi turned back to look at him.
"Aman, please move the center table to
make more space. Kaka, switch on the TV."
The song on
the TV was
Aaj ki raat, ho na hai kya, paana hai
kya, khona hai kya...
Arnav gave
himself a few seconds to understand the rhythm and tone of the song.
Do ghadi, mehi yaahan, jaane kya
hoga...
Holding
Khushi's left hand, he twirled her swiftly. Before she lost balance he went to
her and held her close. And so, for the next 3 minutes, all stood zapped
looking at the two of them.
Arnav tango-ed
his way through the song. Khushi had no clue what was happening. Neither the
time to react. Arnav moved from one step to the other quickly. Before she could
protest and ask him to stop, he would grab her or move her to do the next step.
She just danced to his cue like a puppet. She was twirled, lifted - sometimes
by waist, sometimes by her back and knees, their chests collided many a times,
legs mingled between each other. If Khushi knew even a little bit of tango, it
would have been a dance to perfection.
As the song seemed
to come to an end, Arnav made a finale step. Holding her one hand, he twirled
her several times making a circle around him and at the last beat of the song,
pulled her to himself and held her close, encircling both his hands around her,
his wide palms pretty much covering and supporting her upper and lower back.
The song
ended.
Both of them
were breathing hard. Only looking into each other's eyes. Searching for
something. Small beads of perspiration formed on their faces. Their breaths
mingling together.
"Oh Wow... what a dance?!!" Sarita clapped in excitement.
They realized
the people around them and the position they were in. Arnav loosened his grip
on her. She moved back. Head downcast out of shyness. Arnav dropped his hands
down. But did not move back. He continued to breath hard trying to catch his
breath.
"Arey, I never knew Chotey could
dance." Anjali didn't
hide her surprise.
"Ab bolo. Who is the Khada Khamba?" He asked her in between his breath.
She looked up
to see him. Surprised. They looked at each other for a moment more than usual.
He was not teasing her. She knew that. He was looking for an answer.
Arnav wanted
her to look at him. Her downcast face was not giving him any message as to what
she felt. He had to know that she wasn't upset with him for this impromptu
dance. No, she was not feeling uncomfortable. Only shy. Her expression told
him. He had his answer. He turned around and made way to his room.
Khushi held
her chest to even her breath.
"Wah Jiji. Kya takkar diya tumne
Arnavji ko. You were no less than him. It's a pity they played only half the
song."
"Aman, did you know Chotey can dance?"
"Of course. He took tango classes
while we were at the university."
Not hearing
any of this Khushi excused herself from the group saying "I will drink some water and come back." She went to the kitchen
and had a full glass. But all her senses could only feel Arnavji's hands on
her. On her fingers, her palm, her arms, her shoulders, her neck, her waist,
her abdomen and at a certain other place she was too shy to even admit to
herself. Her goose bumps from his touch had still not faded. Her breath was
still not even. She set right her hair and stepped out.
<p align="center">***</p>
Arnav took
big gulps from the water bottle in his study and dropped on his chair. His
hands were so warm. He could still feel her. He had meant to show her some
moves and let go. But when her soft bosom hit hard against his chest all of his
senses seemed to have taken a vacation. He had danced with quite a few girls
during his college days, while taking his tango classes. Thanks to a certain
stupid assignment given by a professor. But none of those dances were like this
one. This felt like a dance with a woman'. What tango really stands for.
He could
still feel the gasp of her surprise on his neck everytime she was pulled close
to him. He had held her by the waist, run his hand along her midriff and her arms.
Her arms, just like soft silk... He had held her firmly by neck and shoulders
for couple of steps. Oh she was so light...
Oh lord...she was so thin that, he could hardly stretch his arms all the
way, to support her form. Twice his fingers had come scandalously close to the
side of her bosom. He was hoping against hope that she had not noticed it. The
final step was a big give away. He was sure she had felt his fingers graze the
side of her...erm...
He opened his
laptop fast and entered the password.
Work, work,
work...
Her natural
scent was still lingering around him.
Work, work,
work, ... Didn't he have lot of work to catch up on?
DINNER TABLE
"Chotey, its been so many days. You
haven't made your pasta."
"Kya, aapke Chotey... I mean Sir cooks
too?"
"Arey, don't you know Khushiji. Chotey
is a very good cook. But he only makes western food. Like pizza, pasta,
sandwich, salad. I love his pasta."
"Ok Di. Tomorrow lets have brunch. I
will make the pasta. Do you want to eat the one with mushroom sauce?"
"Ooo yummy. Yes, that would be great."
"Mushroom? Isnt that a fungi. Why
would you use a fungi for cooking?"
Khushi felt nauseated.
"Arey Khushiji. Trust me. You have to
taste Chotay's pasta only once. You will not be able to stop yourself after
that."
Khushi made
an I don't like it face.
Arnav gave
her a "Wait till you taste it" look.
NEXT MORNING
Khushi woke
hearing sounds from the kitchen. Kaka must have started with the days work.
Groggily, she walked to the kitchen.
"Kaka, why did you wake up so early.
You go and..." Her
mouth lay open. Because it was not Kaka, but Arnavji there.
A small
teasing smirk slowly adorned his face. "Kya
he?" He asked wriggling his eyebrows once.
"Kuch nahi."
"Arrange the flower pot on your head."
he said, pointing
towards her head. Holding his coffee mug, he went past her, brushing her
shoulders along the way.
She patted
her hands on her head. Flower pot? What flower pot. She went to the bathroom
and looked at herself. Her hair couldn't have betrayed her more today... And of
all the people in front of Arnavji! Coming to that, what is he gloating about.
His hair is worse... hmph..some people.
The rest of
the crowd woke up pretty late.
Arnav started
his preparation for Pasta with Mushroom Sauce, Bruschetta, and a Salad.
Time and
again Khushi stepped in under the pretext of helping him. But she actually
wanted to make sure in which items she was putting that non-veg' mushroom
into. And each time she was shooed away. When she didn't budge, Arnav lifted
her by the waist, like a bundle of clothes, and dumped her on the sofa.
"Chup chaap yahi raho. No helping. I
will do everything myself and call you at the dining table. Samjhi?"
She nodded a
yes. As if she had a choice.
Arey Khushiji. Why do you bother? When
Chotay takes up cooking, he does everything himself and perfectly. And don't
worry. He will leave the kitchen exactly as he found it.
After a good
two hours, they were all invited onto the dining table.
Everyone
Oooed and Aaawed about the food. Including Payal. Khushi ate the salad and the
bruschetta. They didn't seem to have the mushroom. She didn't touch the pasta.
That seemed the only logical dish where it could be.
"Excuse me. I forgot one dish." Arnav excused himself from the dining
table.
"This is for those who don't like
mushroom sauce." He
eyed Khushi. She gave an awkward smile. He gave her a new plate and went back
to his chair.
"Arnavji, this dish is so yummy. Where
did you learn it?"
Payal enquired.
"In the US. I used to work as an
assistant cook in a restaurant."
"Haww you worked as a bawarchi in the
US? Jiji, You cook so well. So, why don't you go to the US too and become a
cook? And I am sure it will pay better than your current job."
"Payal. ASR was studying in the US. He
worked in the restaurant to earn money to pay his college fees. He has a
business management degree from Harvard University." Aman enlightened her.
"Oh..." Payal decided to keep quiet. She had
no clue what business management was or what this Harvard University was. She
would ask Jiji later.
And Khushi
decided to google for Harvard University. She knew what business management
was. So, Arnavji wasn't doing two jobs for money? He had an MBA degree from a
university in USA. He could get any job that he wants. Then why was he working
in Mallik Fashions?
That evening,
they bid good bye to Aman and Anjali at the airport and came back to the PG. And
what followed was the worst nightmare ever.
<p>BETRAYAL AND CONSEQUENCES - CONTINUED IN
NEXT CHAPTER.
A/n: So, how was it... more to come. In the mean time, do hit the LIKE BUTTON or COMMENT if you liked this update. Thanks a ton.
CID
Kumkum Bhagya
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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