Arshi FF: Jeene Laga Hoon (NOTE pg. 68) - Page 19

Arnav woke up the following morning to his phone ringing. He groaned as he reached out to the nightstand and grabbed his Blackberry. By the time he was actually able to focus and read the caller ID, the call had gone to voicemail. He set his phone back down and sat up in bed. Only then did Arnav remember that he wasn't in Boston, but in Udaipur. Last night had been the sangeet and he had been so tired that he crashed the minute he had hit the bed.

He threw the covers off of himself and got out of bed. Arnav stretched his muscles as he made his way out to his personal balcony. His room was facing the open courtyard in the middle of The Mahal, and because he was on the second floor, he was able to see the hustle and bustle going on below. And today, it seemed that everyone was running around and preparing for the haldi ceremony. Because Akash and Payal's families blended so well, they had decided to do this ritual together, disregarding the whole the groom can't see the bride' custom. He saw Aman walking around with baskets of flowers, while Anjali trailed behind him, obviously ordering him around. NK was helping decorate the seating area where Akash and Payal would both sit to have their haldi applied.

Before Arnav could locate any other family members, his phone began ringing again. He turned back and went to answer the call. Approximately one hour later, he had showered and changed into denim jeans and a white, button-down shirts. As he rolled the sleeves up, there was a knock on his door. Arnav opened it to reveal Akash standing there, dressed in his white kurta and pants. His hair seemed to still be drying, as if he had just gotten out of the shower moments ago.

"What's up?" Arnav asked.

"You're still here?" Akash asked surprised. "Nani has been looking everywhere for you."

"What? Why?"

"She needs your help, and she said, and I quote, Only Chote can help me'."

Arnav groaned, but agreed. However, before he left the room, he grabbed his Blackberry and bluetooth. He stuck it in his ear and headed out in search of his Nani. While he walked down the stairs and through the halls, Arnav grumbled to himself angrily as people kept bumping into him. He understood that they all had things to do in preparation for the haldi, but people seriously needed to watch where they were going. This definitely would not have happened if he was in Boston.

After silently cursing to himself, Arnav found Nani sitting outside on a bench. What surprised him was that Khushi was with her. She was giving Nani her medicines and saying something he couldn't hear from his distance. As he walked up to them, he took in her appearance. Her hair was in a ponytail and rested on one side of her face. She moved her bangs from her eyes. She was wearing a yellow chunidar with an orange dupatta. As soon as he reached the two women, Khushi acknowledged him a simple smile. In return, Arnav gave a curt nod before turning his attention to his Nani.

"You called for me?" he asked.

Nani smiled, "Chote, I need you to go help with the haldi, and also make sure Akash is ready. Make sure Anjali bitiya doesn't overwork herself. And also-."

"Whoa whoa whoa slow down! First of all, Di has Aman jiju to hover over her and make sure she's okay. Second, Akash is ready because he is the one who called me to come to you. Thirdly, why do I need to help with the haldi?"

"Chote, don't argue and do as I say."

Nani ordered him to bring the haldi to the seating area where Akash and Payal would be. She also gave him some other things to do, to which he held back a groan. Seeing this Khushi tried hard to stifle her laughter. She knew Arnav well enough to know that he did not want to do all of this, but was doing so because of his Nani. Just as Nani was telling him the last thing he needed to do, Arnav's phone rang.

He clicked on the bluetooth in his ear, "ASR."

Khushi watched Arnav go into his ASR mode. His face became stern and his posture became serious. His voice was firm and he got straight down to the point in his conversations. It was truly amazing to watch. She glanced at Nani and instantly her smile faded. The elderly woman watched Arnav before sighing and shaking her head in disappointment. She patiently waited for him to complete the call. Khushi could sense that she was not too pleased, but tried to compromise.

Arnav hung up the call a few seconds later and turned back to his Nani, "Okay. Is there anything else you need me to do?"

"Those gifts over there," Nani pointed to the pile of boxes wrapped in shiny paper. "They need to be put in room 208. That room is specifically used to store the wedding gifts."

"You needed an entire room to store gifts?!"

"There are a lot of guests."

Arnav sighed, "Anything else?"

Nani shook her head. Without waiting another minute, Arnav left. He had taken two steps when his phone rang again and he answered it on his bluetooth. Khushi watched him as he grabbed boxes and headed inside to put them away, all while talking to someone on his earpiece. She smirked. The work of the great ASR is never done. As she turned back to resume her lecture about taking medicine on time with Nani, she found her staring at her grandson with a sad look on her face. This bothered Khushi. Ever since she had met Nani through NK, she had a special place for her in her heart. She respected her greatly and cared for her like she was her own family. Nani was nothing less with Khushi. She gave her the same adoration as she did with Anjali. So when Khushi saw the sadness in Nani's eyes, she immediately became concerned. Khushi knelt down in front of her and placed her hand on the elderly woman's hands, which were placed gracefully in her lap. Nani looked down at Khushi.

"Naniji," Khushi said. "Are you okay?"

Nani sighed and looked in the direction Arnav had disappeared to, "It's been so long since we've seen him. He's changed so much."

"Time changes everyone. Didn't you tell me that? Arnav is just...not used to being back after so long."

"I know," Nani looked at Khushi with a sad smile. "I just wish he would take some time off work, get off of his phone, and enjoy this time with his family. But I know he will never do such a thing."

Khushi felt bad seeing Nani talk like this. It was true that Arnav was back after a long time, and she wanted things to be like they once were. But she also knew that time changed people, and Arnav was now in his own little world. He was becoming a stranger to his own family. Knowing that Nani felt this way, Khushi wondered if the rest of the Raizada family felt the same. Well, if that was the case, then she was going to have to do something about that. Eight years ago, Arnav had pulled her out of her shell. Now it was her turn to return the favor. She gave Nani a mischievous smile as an idea popped into her head.

"Naniji," she whispered. "I'll get him to spend time with the family."

"How on earth will you perform such a miracle?" Nani laughed.

"Just leave it to Khushi Kumari Gupta."

~

After putting all the gifts in the room, double checking all the food with the caterers, and making sure the decorations were completed, Arnav had one task left and that was getting the haldi. He carried two thalis full of the paste, one for the bride and one for the groom. As he made his way to the seating area, Arnav placed the thalis down and took a seat on the grass. Finally, he was done. Between helping out here and managing work, he was tuckered out.

Arnav looked around. The guests seemed to be getting ready for the haldi, they were just waiting for Akash and Payal to show up. He found NK and Anjali talking to one another while standing next to Nani, who was still sitting on the same bench. Aman came from the hall with a glass of juice for Anjali, who accepted it gratefully. Seeing the sight before him gave Arnav an aching feeling inside. His family was only a few feet away, but they felt miles apart. This just reiterated the idea of how much of a stranger he had become in the last eight years. He closed his eyes and sighed. Maybe coming back wasn't the best idea. He wished things would go back to normal, but he didn't know to get them that way. Everyone had changed, including him. Arnav wondered if there was anything he could do.

He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice Khushi sneaking up behind him. She slowly crept up behind him, treading lightly to make sure she didn't make a sound. When she was right behind him, Khushi dipped her hand in the thali of haldi. She was using all her willpower to not laugh and blow her cover. Arnav still had no idea she was there. This is going to be good. Taking a deep breath, Khushi took her haldi-free hand and yanked the bluetooth off of Arnav's ear.

Arnav opened his eyes and turned around, "What the-."

Khushi left him speechless as she smeared haldi on his cheek. He looked at her wide-eyed. She paused before breaking into fits of laughter and running off. Arnav touched his cheek, shocked that she had dared to put haldi on him. Well, Arnav Singh Raizada was not going to take that sitting down.

"Khushi!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.

He shot up from the ground and began chasing her around the courtyard, yelling at her to give him his bluetooth back. Khushi didn't listen. Instead, she kept running, dodging his every attempt to try and catch her. She even managed to smear his other cheek with haldi. At first, Arnav was angry. But it wasn't long until it faded away and was replaced with the joy of chasing Khushi around. He was laughing and smiling with her as they ran around like kids. They were so caught up in their little world that they failed to notice the shocked faces of Raizada family.

Aman's jaw dropped, "What in the name of God..."

Anjali barely held the glass in her hand, "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

"I've never seen Chote have so much fun," Nani said with her hand on her cheek as she watched in amazement.

NK laughed, "This reminds me of Holi in Manali."

He explained to them how Khushi had dumped powder on all of them, including Arnav. In return, Arnav smeared color all over her. Aman, Anjali, and Nani were speechless hearing that Khushi had dared to challenge Arnav and got away with it.

In response, NK smirked and said, "Only Khushi Kumari Gupta would dare to battle Arnav Singh Raizada."

It wasn't long until Arnav caught Khushi on the staircase inside The Mahal. As they stopped laughing and caught their breaths, he grabbed her hand and pulled her back down to the bottom, then took the earpiece out of her hand. She gave him a haw' look in response, causing him to smirk at her facial expressions.

"Why did you take my bluetooth?" Arnav asked seriously.

"Because you were paying more attention to it than you were to the festivities," Khushi remarked.

"I have to work, Khushi."

"Work will always be there, but Akash and Payal's wedding will only happen once."

"But-."

She held her hand in front of his face, "Work can wait."

"Why do I have to be a part of this?" Arnav complained. "It's not my wedding. I don't do functions."

"Well now you have to. Akash is like your brother. And as a brother, you have to fulfill your brotherly duties."

"...What...crap."

Khushi's gaze softened, "When people look back at their lives, these are the moments they cherish. They remember the happy times they had with their friends and family."

He looked at her intently as he continued to listen. The fight in Arnav began to die down.

"Don't take everything you have here for granted," Khushi's eyes met his. "You don't realize how lucky you are to have it."

Arnav remembered how Khushi had told him that she was an orphan. Here he was, neglecting his family, focusing on work even while being with them. And then here was Khushi, who had no one and sought a family relationship with everyone she met. She was right. He was lucky to even have a family, and he didn't put it into perspective until now. He remembered her telling him how she was grateful to NK for introducing her to Nani, Aman, and Anjali. They made her feel like part of the family, just as they had done with Payal and Lavanya. Arnav watched Khushi put on a brave smile, but saw her eyes flicker with sadness. Even though his family made Khushi feel like she was a part of it, she knew she really wasn't. Seeing this, he felt his chest constrict.

Arnav took a step closer, "Khushi-."

"Khushi!" the sound of Payal's voice echoed through the main hall. "Hurry! It's time for the haldi ceremony! Weren't you going to put it on me first!"

Before Arnav had a chance to complete his sentence, Khushi turned on her heels and ran out to the courtyard. He stood at the bottom of the staircase, pondering her words. As the revelation occurred and a newfound determination kicked in, Arnav went back upstairs to his room and put his phone and bluetooth away. He shut his phone off and tossed it in the nightstand drawer along with his earpiece. He washed the haldi off of his face before leaving the room, smiling at himself in the mirror before exiting as he recalled how Khushi had lathered the paste on his cheeks. Arnav went back downstairs and to the courtyard to partake in the haldi ceremony, making sure that he wouldn't be distracted by anything related to work anymore.

**********

Well, Khushi Kumari Gupta sure is something, isn't she? Let me know what you think by leaving your comments and feedback below.

Next update: The actual haldi ceremony!

Thanks for reading!