Chapter 3
"Tum" she yelp as she bent to pick up her fallen ghathri. "Phir se mera nuksaan kar diya na? Ab sari bheeg gayee. Kya tum hamesha mera nuksaan hi karoge.?" She looked up to realise he had stopped his raised hand mid air and was staring at something. She then straightened her dupatta to cover her front fully and gave him a stabbing look.
"Nuksaan, kitna hoga tumhari sari ka? Mere time ki keemat se toh jyada nahi na?" he retorted. "Aur tum larkiyon ko aata hi kya hai, apne fayde ke liye toh tum jitna ho sake utna jhukogi na," he glanced at the now covered chest in disgust, to make his point.
Riled, Khushi pointed a finger at him, "Tum jo bhi ho, tumhein tameez bhi nahi hai aur'"
"Haan tumhari aukaat hoti toh mein shayad tameez bhi dikhata." he interrupted.
"Dekho, mera dimaag mat kharab karo, ek toh mera nuksaan kar diya upar se ye bhi nahi ki sorry bole."
He did not understand why he was getting into an argument with this girl, but nevertheless he stepped closer to her and held her arm in his grip, "Kyon jaise tumne bola tha last time waise?"
Khushi colored and tried to step back, but he pulled her closer and muttered, "Stupid woman, you'll fall."
Khushi rammed into him at the unexpected force and placed her hands on his chest as she settled into him. She felt a current pass through her and she looked up to see a strange expression in his eyes. She tried to decipher it but he then turned his head and put her on one side, turned and walked away.
"Uski toh mein' how dare he go away' hey devi maiyya' kyon baar baar isse mere saamne laa kar khada kar dete ho?" she joined her hands, looked up to the sky which was still pouring blessed water and she decided, she was too late to dwell on that obnoxious man; picked up her bundle of sari and walked to the directory list to find the location of the boutique.
As she entered the shop, she was met with an elegant woman who was dressed in a crisp pencil skirt, a ruffled lanvender colored blouse and a waist coat of the same material as the skirt. She came forward to ask her and guided her to the office of the Manager of the Boutique.
Just as she was about to enter the office, she heard voices and stopped.
"You never give me time, Arnav. You have forgotten who I am." the woman complained.
"Stop being ridiculous. You know, what we had in Delhi was just that a mutually benefitting arrangement. I have promoted you to manage this Boutique. Just do that. Did I not come to meet you?" the man replied in soft yet firm tones.
"Of course, how convenient of you to shift me off to Lucknow and now you have only come because of the Fashion Show , don't try to smooth talk your way out of this ARnie." she belligerently added.
"You knew the score right from beginning, Lavanya. I am a busy man and this is the best I can do. Take it or leave it." He announced arrogantly.
The woman called Lavanya then gave a small laugh and said, "Arnie Darling, dont be so harsh. One day you will find out; that arrogance of yours will cost you everything."
"Is that a threat, Lavanya?" Arnav sarcastically countered.
Not wanting to hear more, Khushi knocked on the door, harder than she would have normally and heard Arnav say, "Get rid of whoever it is, I want to discuss the plans for the Fashion Show."
Aghast, Khushi's hand stayed on the door knob and then felt it turn and a head appear on the other side.
The woman again very elegantly dressed in a black skirt suit that was ridiculously revealing but becoming on her tall lean figure stepped out of the office to ask, "Yes, who are you and what do you want?"
"Woh'mein'I mean' I have an appointment with the Manager for showing samples of the chikankaari sari, could I talk'" Khushi fumblingly explained her presence.
"Oh! dekho, I don't have time right now, come tomorrow after the Fashion Show to the Taj and I shall show the samples to the owner as well. Today we dont have time. Sorry. Okay. Thanks." Lavanya explained, turned and went inside the door she had come out of.
With hand outstretched, Khushi, just stood there; realising it was all because of that man inside that room who was responsible for her wasted trip. In a mind to go and give him a piece of her mind, she stopped herself for anger would not achieve what she needed right now and that was the contract to create chikankaari work for this company.
Disappointed she left the Mall, but she made up her mind to showcase the sari tomorrow at the Fashion Show in a unique way. Happy with her idea, Khushi went to the shop and spent her day helping her sister and father.
When her sister asked her about the meeting, she said, "Woh toh kharab honi this, woh jo mil gaya tha."
"Woh?" Payal asked, "Woh kaun?"
"Wahi, Khadoos, Akdoo, pata nahi jiji, woh mujhe hi kyon mil jaata hai. Jab bhi milta hai, nuksaan karta hai. Yaad hai parson, jab mein Lalaji ke yahaan mein Mithaiyan pahonchaane gayee thi aur saari mithaai hamein phir se banani padi thi. Sab uski wajah se."
"Par tab toh tune bola tha ki tujhse gir gayee, toh woh kahan se aa gaya?" Payal voiced her confusion.
"Woh Jiji, hua aisa tha, ki'" Khushi started explaining the situation in detail in her usual animated manner.
She had taken ten boxes of Mithai to Lala Bhawani Shankar Choudhary who happened to be the biggest cotton textile merchant in the city for a Puja they were holding in their house for their first grandson's Mundan. She had dressed in her usual finery of bright Chikankaari filled silk salwaar kameez as it advertised her talent and many a times got her new projects.
Also it was an occasion for the family, so it would not do to go there inappropriately dressed. Being a designer, she had an innate sense of style which was traditional yet unique in the cut and style. The tailor who stitched her clothes ensured that the cuts flattered her slim figure and looked today's clothes despite being traditional salwaar kameez. According to him, "Kapde sundarta badhaye toh kaamke warna kafan hi pehen lete sab."
As she had reached the entrance to the big doors that were ornate and spoke of intricate Awadhi architecture, had been called out for help by someone.
She had turned to find a 4-5 year old boy asking to be helped with a ball that was stuck on the parapet above a window on the right side of the house. She had told him that she was carrying boxes and would be difficult but his big, round sullen eyes that had suddenly developed tears the size of a marble had melted her.
She had put the boxes on the wide platform on the side of the the stairway to the entrance and climbed up on it to reach the parapet. She could not reach the parapet so she climbed onto the window sill and tried to reach. She touched something and realised it must be the ball. She was about to reach the ball, when she felt herself lose balance and had tried to clutch at something nearby and found air. Trying to overbalance that she had bent backwards and titteringly as she lost her footing on sill. With hands and legs splaying, she had thought she would land on the platform when someone had bursted in, caught hold of her and in the process pushed the boxes of sweets down on the stairs. They unceremoniously opened and all the sweets spread on the last four steps.
Bracing her for her fall, she had felt weightless suddenly when she had been lifted out of harm's way and carried in strong arms.
With eyes closed and face dug into his chest, she had waited for them to fall to the ground. But nothing of the sort had happened. The man seemed to have unbelievable strength to not just have caught her but also land on his two feet with her secured in his arms.
She felt her breath whoosh out of her as they landed and a thud as her head hit his hard chest.
Before she could open her eyes, the man was heard saying, "Ab toh chor nahi Chorni ghumtein hain Lucknow mein." He then without preamble settled her on her feet but did not release her hand.
"Kya kar rahi thi, uss khidki par chaadhkar?" he growled.
"Woh mein, uss bachche'" she looked around for the kid, but he seemed to have disappeared.
"He had then pulled her to him and asked, "Kyon, report kar doon Police mein? ya batati ho yahan kyon aayee ho?"
Khushi feeling a bit better, countered him with a look and retorted, "Police kyon bulayange aap? Mein koi Chor nahi hoon. Woh mein mithaaiyan'" and turned around to where she had placed the boxes only to find the sweets strewn all over the steps.
"Hey Devi Maiyya, mera nuksaan kar diya."
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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