Individual picture Cr OuYet another deep sigh made it's way towards Arnav as he tried to concentrate on the delicate task of pruning his prized batch of winter roses. The frost clinging determinedly to the glass panels of his conservatory wasn't being particularly kind to their future prospects of continued existence.
"Where's the bloody engineer, dammit? He is intending to turn up this side of Christmas, isn't he? Why did this stupid heating system have to shut itself down right now?" Muttering all sorts of dire consequences he wanted to mete out to the company in question, he turned towards the adjoining drawing room, and shouted.
"Khushi!"
"Khushi!"
"Khushi!"
"What_the ... her head's stuck in that damn laptop again. I can't believe I'm having to compete with that ... that thing for my wife's attention! I'm going to have to get Aman to track down this Vijay bhaiya she keeps thanking and give him what for! All thanks to him, her obsession with that dratted serial continues unabated. And there are thousands of them like her out there, apparently. Unbelievable ... !"
Walking up to where his wife was glued to her computer, sighing constantly and shaking her head at regular intervals, he opened his mouth to continue with his tirade, when he saw a tiny teardrop at the corner of her eye, debating it's next move. He instantly reached out and obliterated it's existence.
Feeling her Arnavji's feather light touch, Khushi jerked out of her despondency and turned to look up at him.
"A ... aap? When did you come in?"
"I've been trying to get your attention since ages Khushi. Kitni baar bola hai tumhe, that when I'm talking to you, look at me".
"Haan woh hum bas ... " She began, trailing off with yet another sigh.
Seeing her eyes glisten with the evil sprogs of that earlier teardrop, Arnav, felt his insides twist. If there was one thing that was guaranteed to unman the mighty ASR, it was the presence of tears in his wife's eyes.
Hunkering down next to her, he gently cupped her face in his hands (well he did have a lot of experience of that, thanks to Di!). Drawing tiny soothing circles on her cheeks with his thumbs, he snagged her eyes with his.
"Tum theek ho, Khushi? What's the matter? Talk to me sweetheart."
"It's nothing Arnavji ... just ... waise bhi humme faraq nahin padta... zyaada nahin anyway ... If I can't, I can't I guess ... but if only I could ... but it's not practical ... I know that ... London is not Lucknow ... but phirbhi ... "
"Okay stop! Take a deep breath and start again. What is not practical? And what is it that you can't do? I thought Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada kuch bhi kar sakti hai?!"
Her husband's warm teasing tone brought a small smile on Khushi's face. How could she tell him what she wanted? He really would think she was paagal. But she knew her Laad Governor was not going to let go until he got to the bottom of her wistfulness. Mustering up her courage, and sending a quick prayer to her Devi Maiya to take care of his what_the's, she told him exactly what her problem was.
Scrunching her eyes shut, she waited for the explosion ... and waited ... and waited ... Slowly opening her eyes one at a time, she glanced at him apprehensively. Was he so furious that bolti he band ho gayi?!
"So, what's the problem? If you want to go, go. You could leave this thursday night, stay for the weekend and get back by monday morning. The meeting with Mr Singhania is scheduled for 11 o'clock, so that won't be an issue. And I've already warned HP not to touch the files in my study, so no fear of them being misplaced." he quipped.
Shaking her head in disbelief at this calm person sitting in front of her, she blurted out, "Humme chimti katiye! Kya hum SKD mein hain? What have you done to my Arnavji?!"
Giving her an amused look, well a slightly puzzled one as well at the SKD, Arnav took her hands in his.
"Khushi, much as it pains me to accept it, I know you are more than a little obsessed with this .. this .. Sobti chap. And if you want to go watch his movie then by all means go. I want you to be happy. I want you to follow your dreams. And if one of them is to watch his first film on the big screen, then so be it. It's highly unlikely it's going to be released in London anytime soon ... "
Her outraged cry of "Arnavji" merely resulted in a raised eyebrow and a quizzical look by the man in question.
"Be realistic Khushi. It's not happening. And it won't be showing when we go back to Mumbai at the end of the month either. So, go now and stop with the sighing. Although all that hot air is good for my roses" he continued with an audacious wink.
Before he could say another word, Khushi had leapt on him causing him to fall back on the carpet, and was raining kisses all over his face. Now that wasn't an unusual position for them to be in, but before he could pull her further into him, she had scrambled up and was opening her laptop hurriedly. No doubt to share her joy with the virtual world at large.
Arnav had tried, he really had, to understand the attraction of both Sobti and that serial which started it all. But, to no avail. He continued to be baffled at the hysteria it had generated. Sigh ... love really can reduce anyone to anything. Here he was, actively encouraging his wife to fangirl over another man! He looked at his beaming wife as she tapped away on her laptop and her phone simultaneously. Her entire being vibrating with excitement. But that love can also fill your heart to bursting at seeing your beloved so happy. Besides, Khushi may fangirl over that man, but love, she would only ever love him. Of that, he didn't have an iota of doubt. After all, he was Arnav Singh Raizada. And, hadn't he already seen off that Salman Khan!
Khushi was sure she was going to faint with excitement. Her friends' eees and OMGs and OMFGs were feeding her frenzy. She couldn't believe Arnavji had actually said she should go. As in, go all the way to Mumbai. From London. For the weekend. Just to watch a film. Barunji's film! And off her brain went again, tripping over itself in elation.
She looked over at where her husband was speaking on the phone. No doubt instructing Amanji to book her tickets. A feeling of overwhelming love filled her. Arnavji showered her with so much love and care that she sometimes felt almost unworthy of it. She knew that somewhere in himself he hadn't fully forgiven himself for the way he had mistrusted and ill treated her. He was always harder on himself than on anyone else.
Walking over to him, she hugged him from the back, sliding her arms around him and leaning her face on his shoulder. Hanging up immediately, Arnav turned around and took her in his arms. His husky whisper sending goosebumps down her spine.
"I love you."
"Hum bhi aapse, I love you dammit."
"Have you spoken to Di to let her know you're coming?"
"Not yet. What do I tell her though? That I'm coming to see Barunji's film? She'll think I'm crazy!"
"Well ... I think she has an inkling you're crazy anyway ... "
"Di would never think that of me! I know, I'll ask her to come with me."
"Sure, and Mamiji and NK and Aarav and Naniji and Aakash and Payal and Bubbli and of course, Laxmi ... "
Arnav's eyes danced mischievously as he reminded her of that epic date that wasn't quite a date. An involuntary answering smile made it's way to Khushi's face at that memory.
"I'll go speak to Di." she said making her way to their room, instructing HP on the way to bring down two suitcases from storage. Uh, it may be just for a weekend, but you need to have options okay! Just in case of ... of ... oh, just in case bas! Anyway, she needed to be perfectly dressed for going to see Barunji's film. Hugging herself as another wave of exhilaration shot through her, she called Anjali in Mumbai.
"Di, aap kaise hain? Woh ... hum .. I thought I'd come down this weekend to see all of you."
"Is everything alright Khushiji? Is Chote okay? Have Chote and you fought? How come all of a sudden? Humme chinta ho rahi hai."
"Arrey nahin Di, aisa kuch bhi nahin hai. We are both fine. Bas, I was missing all of you so I thought I'd come for the weekend. And we could have some fun while I'm there. There's a new film that's releasing this friday ... I think it's called Main aur Mr Right or something ... we could go watch that if you like ... "
"You mean Barunji's film Khushiji?" teased a laughing Anjali, as realisation dawned on her.
"Aap samjh gaye Di. So much for my attempted nonchalance."
"I'll send Mohanji to buy the tickets. Shall we go on Saturday evening?"
"Umm, we could even go on friday afternoon if you like ... on the way home from the airport even. I won't be tired at all, I'm sure ..." She said, trailing off.
"Accha baba, I'm guessing you want to see it first day, first show, kyun?"
A thoroughly embarrassed Khushi finished the conversation and turned her attention to packing. And to continue debating on the point which was going round in her head. Should she ask Jalebiji if she would like to meet with her and watch the film together. She was utterly delightful and they had been fangirling over Barunji on the CC and talking about the film since ages. But, would it put Jalebiji in an awkward situation if she asked to meet?
Deciding to message her before departing and leaving it up to her to decide, she spent the next couple of days in a surreal daze and non stop chattering with her CC friends.
Finally, she was winging her way towards Mumbai and Barunji. Practically bouncing with excitement, she made her way out of the airport to be engulfed in the waiting arms of Di. And to the ping of her Inbox with a message from Jalebiji.
"What time does your flight land? I'll come and fetch you and we can watch the film together. I'm already half way through it!"
Regretting not having messaged her earlier, Khushi spoke to her fixing to meet up that sunday, to watch the film again. An amused Anjali looked on in amusement at her paagal but cute Bhabhi. She wished for Khushi's sake that the film was good. But, the lack of too many people at the cinema, didn't bode well. Far too overwrought to tuck into her standard cinema fare of samosas and bhel and corn, Khushi rushed straight to her seat.
As the lights dimmed and the movie began, she let out a contented sigh. This, this is what she wanted to feel. Him filling the movie screen with his presence. The husky timbre in his voice enveloping the viewer. Drawing them towards himself (which was just as well in this particular case!).
And she got to do it all over again. With Jalebiji. Although, they nearly had to buy extra tickets to make sure the film was shown! But, Barunji ke liye kuch bhi.
Her phone pinged with a message from Arnavji.
"Khushi, iss pyaar ko kya naam doon?"
oOo
Note:
Happy Birthday Barun Sobti! This is a small tribute to the man who has enthralled and enraptured so many of us. He has been part of a phenomenon which has given me dear friends who I would never have met otherwise. He continues to wield his magic over us, even as we attempt to wield a pair of scissors over him! The man who stepped out of that chopper all those years back, lodging himself firmly into our hearts, continues to reside there unshaken and unstirred. After all, the Munda is desi daaru ... toh nasha toh banta hai!
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