Chapter 2--
Aarti smiled and said as soon as she noted her darling sister's sullen mood as she attacked the T.V's remote control, "Khushu, look at this way, it would be fun to connect with Mama's childhood friend's son. Right? Who knows, we all might get along very well."
Khushi imitated her sister's "Get along very well" and then giving an apologetic look to her sister she continued, "Get along, my foot. As if I would get along with another of these small town types of people."
Aarti frowned at that and gave a displeased look as she said, "You are again making opinions about people before meeting them Khushi. It is not a good practice. At least meet the person first."
Khushi shook her head stubbornly and was irritated by the fact that her di was not seeing what she had visualized -- "Nahi di, I can't forget how, buaji, behaved with us last year."
Aarti sighed as she understood where Khushi was coming from and said gently this time, "But Khushi, how come you are putting this Arnav guy by buaji's side. You know they have no connection at all."
Khushi simply shook her head and continued stubbornly, "No di, you don't know. All these small town, village type people have small mentality. They will come and judge us and our way of living. And you know, I hate sharing my house with strangers."
Aarti smiled gently at her sister and said, "Sometime strangers only become very dear to us. Who knows you might even cry when he leaves eventually."
Khushi snorted and laughed hard clutching a cushion to her belly and said rolling her eyes, "As if, di. What a joke. Me crying over this guy. I don't cry over guys di and I know what I would do exactly, when he leave."
Aarti looked on as Khushi got up and did her happy dance.
Both girls giggled as they remembered doing this dance exactly at this spot a year ago when her buaji and her good for nothing son had left after torturing them with their cutting remarks for entire three months.
(Flashback)
A year ago Khushi's Bua Tulsi devi and her son Rakesh Kumar came to stay with them. Initially all three Gupta ladies tried to make them comfortable as this was the first time somebody from their dad's family was coming to visit them. Nobody had even come to offer condolences when her Dad had died in a car accident 10 years ago.
But now both Buaji and her son was here as all of a sudden Rakesh Kumar had caught this acting bug and claimed that it would be tragic only if Hindi movie industry wouldn't give a chance to the talent like his.
So to save the Hindi movie industry, he had come.
Initially Khushi and Pooja had a blast as they would imitate over the top dialogue delivery method of Rakesh Kumar. But soon, Buaji's comments on the way Khushi and Pooja dressed started coming. She often interfered, when the girls would go out for movies and shopping with their friends. Interacting with the guys was totally scandalous in Buaji's vocabulary and Garima had to often listen to the lecture on "how to raise proper & cultured girls". Poor Garima was caught in the middle as she didn't want to displease her husband's sister. But she also knew her daughters and didn't want them to be suffocated under Buaji's regime.
One day it just became too much when Khushi heard Buaji on the phone talking to somebody and saying, "Arre, it is a real "Kalyug" here in this house. Maa and her both daughters have no principles. Girls wear short clothes and Maa also goes on wearing colorful saris. Now which widow in our culture would wear colorful clothes? Yesterday she brought some man to her house. Now tell me, what kind of woman would bring strange men to her house?"
Khushi had tears of rage in her eyes as soon as she heard that. She had been tolerating Buaji's oppression but this character assassination of her mother was intolerable. Without thinking, Khushi took the phone from Buaji's hand and screeched. "Buaji, how could you say such shameful things about my mom? NK Uncle was Dad's very good friend and had always been there for us."
Buaji snorted and made a face, "Huh! I wonder why?"
Khushi was beyond angry now as she shouted, "People like you don't appreciate, other person's generosity."
Buaji reacted back with angry retort as she said, "Ladki, you don't have manners to talk to your elders and that's what you mother has taught you?"
Garima and Aarti, who had heard the commotion by now came running as Khushi was saying, "My mother is the best mom buaji, it is sad, you couldn't appreciate her generosity and are talking bad nasty things about her."
Looking bit pale, Garima tried to pacify both but buaji shouted at her saying, "You have not taught your girls anything Garima. They would bring shame upon you. Especially this younger one."
And after that what happened was something to be seen. Khushi had never seen her mother looking so angry. But her anger was not like hers where she usually erupts like a volcano. Her mother's was an icy controlled anger where she stood back tall, looking so beautiful and dignified and said, "Jiji, I have been very respectful. But there is one thing I can't tolerate and that is somebody saying things about my daughters. They are everything to me and I don't ever want anybody to insult or belittle or throw curses at them."
As buaji stumbled and looked ready to erupt, Mom calmly said, "If you do not like the way me and my daughters conduct in this house then please leave our house."
On the whole Khushi was happy with the outcome as both Buaji and her son left the very next day.
(Flashback Ends)
Hmmm! Maybe I would have to get this Arnav to hear Mom's icy tone and then he would also run back to the hole from where he is coming . Giving an evil smirk, she smiled as she weaved her own plans. Meanwhile her sweet di was saying, "I know Khushi, whatever happened last year was unfortunate...but honey just because of that incident, we can't categorize everybody else in the same manner."
Determined Khushi protested as she put forth her point. "Oh come on Di, what type of people do you expect to come from Meerut?"
Aarti looked amused as she said, "Since you know everything, you tell me?"
Khushi's posture sagged as if entire world's knowledge had come upon her shoulder. "Small town mentality people di. Now this guy would come and gawk at us and our way of living. Gosh! It would be so irritating
Aarti rolled her eyes and laughed at her younger sister, "Khushu, enough of your knowledge now. Why don't you check about Meerut in your new computer, while I will go and get a guest room ready for him?
Khushi mumbled as she put the travel channel on, "Ugh! Guest room, if it was up to me, I would put a cot for him outside the house. But no, these ladies would give him a guest room and spoil him.
Aarti laughed hearing that and pulled on Khushi's ponytail as she walked past her and said "Yup I am sure you would do that sweetie, that's why Mom gave me this responsibility."
Khushi also laughed and stuck out her tongue and got up shutting off the TV. "Yah, I should also go and sleep. I have to go with Mom to pick up a "gaon wala" (villager) tomorrow.
And as she climbed up the stairs she mumbled to herself. "Yah come Mr.Arnav, but soon if I don't send you back packing to your "gaon", my name is not Khushi Gupta.
Next Day--
Khushi was sitting by the pool with her Walkman and her Hindi to English translation paraphernalia and was busy listening to her favorite gazals and flipping through the translation book when her mom called out, "Khushu. Khushi!"
But Khushi was immersed in her own world with a silly smile on her face as Garima shook her head and smiled looking at her adorable daughter. Feigning some anger, she shook her daughter and said, "Khushi, I told you to be ready. We should already be on our way."
Khushi was not happy that because of this man Arnav, her mother was dragging her to the station, while she could have spent time more constructively listening to her man "Abhaas's" sultry croon. After letting out a big dramatic sigh, she put on her sandals and pouted, "I am ready Mama. But do I really have to go."
Garima looked at her beautiful daughter dressed in denim skirt and white t-shirt with approval and nodded, "Yup, you are coming with me. This way you can see a Train station. It is a beautiful structure."
Khushi rolled her eyes and walked behind her mother and whined non-stop. "Seriously Mom, a train station? Has my life become so pathetic these days? Wait till Pooja hear about this." Garima smiled as she walked ahead listening to Khushi's complaints and chatter. Khushi was muttering, "Who travels by trains these days. Of course what can you expect from a Meerut wala. I am sure he has not even heard about a plane or airport in his life. Right Mama?"
Garima looked at her daughter and laughed, "Seriously Khushi, in which world do you live?" As Khushi made a face, Garima said, "Khushu, I know, you would, but I just want to make sure, you would make Arnav feel comfortable here ok? And treat him with respect."
And saying this she dragged reluctant Khushi to the car.
At The Railway Station-
Among the great hustle-bustle of the station, both mother and daughter made their way inside the station. As Garima's eyes searched earnestly through the oncoming passengers, Khushi shifted restlessly from one foot to another looking sullen and bored. Just then somebody caught Khushi's attention as she saw an extremely attractive, handsome guy making his way towards them. Khushi went on alert suddenly as she tried to correct her sagging posture by standing tall to catch his attention, while her mind went on assessing spree, "He was tall, had long easy strides, and sexy smile as it curved his lips. But only one thing against him was, that he was too old for her. Ugh! But then who care, she argued with her subconscious. He is definitely a drool worthy materiel. Pooja would agree. Maybe she would replace "Salman Khan's" image in her mind with this guy's when she listens to those gazals." She didn't realize but she had a dreamy look in her eyes as their eyes clashed over the crowd and held for a moment.
But then all her dreams came crashing down, as he came to stand in front of them and smiled gorgeously, "Garima Aunty?"
Garima nodded with a smile and said, "Arnav, you have grown so tall beta."
Khushi who was looking at the guy just few moments ago with stars shining through her eyes, did a quick turn about to erase the recently erected dreams about this man. "Ugh! So he is Arnav? What was she even thinking about? As if this "goan wala" could replace her hunk Salman. She snorted and looked again and this time she cursed herself for not noticing it before. His dressing sense was totally atrocious. Only "gaon wala" would dress up in jeans with Khadi kurta and sandals. I am sure this might be an "in" look in his "Meerut", but here he stands out like a sore thumb.
Actually, Arnav was looking perfectly handsome in this casual, comfortable attire which was cool and efficient for train journey but since Khushi had already decided to dislike the person nothing could shake her prejudged notions about the man. Not even his intense eyes as they grazed in her direction briefly or that gorgeous sexy grin which he gave for her mother's benefit as he bent to touch Garima's feet respectfully and in the process the bag which he was carrying on his shoulder, slipped a bit and hit right on Khushi's foot. Actually it barely grazed her big toe, but Khushi got a chance to create a drama. As she whelped out, "Ouch!"
She limped on her perfectly fine foot and groaned, "Oh, I think he damaged my foot Mama."
Concerned Arnav looked at Garima, who held Khushi in her arm and said, "She is my daughter, Khushi." And then to Khushi, "What happened beta, it can't be that bad?
Arnav was about to say sorry, when he saw Khushi exaggerating the limp and accusing. "Why did you have to carry such heavy bag, when you can't handle it?"
"What the.." He frowned this time. He could see that the girl was making up the whole incident as the bag was actually very light and couldn't have hurt her to this extent. But he was taken aback by this sudden attack from Garima Aunty's fireball. Who obviously was not happy to see him? He shrugged his shoulders and calmly said, "I am sorry, if because of me you got hurt."
Khushi just huffed and complained and ignored his apology as she said to her mother, "Mama, see, I can't even lift my foot anymore." Garima again sat down to examine the foot and in the process picked up the bag to hand it over to Arnav. As soon as she held the bag, she knew her darling daughter was making this hue and cry over nothing. As this light bag could hardly cause any damage. So giving an apologetic look towards Arnav, she got up and said to Khushi, firmly but in calm voice. "Khushi get up. I will take you to see Doctor. Few injections should cure it."
Hearing the word " injection" and noticing how she was causing distress to her mother, Khushi straightened up immediately and after giving few limped steps, she said in a suffering tone "I think, I might just survive this one."
Arnav marveled at the over acting of the brat and gave a nod towards her as she skipped ahead of them forgetting all about her tall claims for being maimed for life by his bag.
As him and Garima followed Khushi, she apologized on her daughter's behalf and said, "Sorry Beta. Khushi sometimes play pranks. I will talk to her next time, she wouldn't bother you."
"No need Aunty." Arnav smiled, "Kids behave like that sometimes."
He chuckled in his head as he saw Khushi stomping her supposedly damaged foot hearing him calling her "Kid." He reminded himself to not tease this young lady. She obviously had temper issues.
But she would cute for sure.
Khushi, stomped her foot and walked faster simmering, seething. "How dare he call me a kid? I am not a kid. Ugh! "Gaon wala."
With determination she walked ahead. Somewhere inside the unexplored part of her heart, she wanted him to recognize her as a woman.
End of Chapter two
R❤️
Edited by matosarah - 9 years ago
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