Part 6
Khoobsurat
She was angry the whole day. Gauri also was a part reason for that. At breakfast she had teased her 'good luck, if something goes wrong you can always get out of it like me' Amrit hushed her , thinking arohi doesn't know about him yet. Sanchit had got the alliance for gauri, a simple guy who was useful for his business. But Gauri's rebel nature was too much for him to bear and his objection to her way of lifestyle made her quit out of the marriage. She had no regrets about it. Daddu was deeply hurt. He knew Sanchit's marriage was on rocks, gauri already separated, lovedeep had seen no life at all, amrit didnot complain but he could see she expected more from sudheer, His and DJ's marriage was the only one that was successful on all terms. The only thing he wanted to see was Arohi being in a good marriage, a loved one a successful one and arohi knew this. She had promised to herself come what may she will work to make her marriage a success. She had good education had accomplished in music and arts, had a scope in family business in case she felt like working. Now all her heart yearned for was a love life. And now because of this stupid person she may have to forgo, as promised to herself will she have to marry because family wants her to and she will have to work on this marriage even though she doesn't like the guy in the first place?
Whole day she was in these thoughts. Why cant he come back again? Where does he live? How about asking Sanchit bhaiyya. Or may be simi knows something. Her dad was not going to office much , he had handed over everything to sanchit and he too may not know much about arjun. As she repeated his name in her mind she found it more and more majestic. Like the Arjun of the epic, he too had powerful eyes, magnificent posture and a magnetic personality, though she did not know much about his personality she still could make out he was different. and how well built he was, she could remember the touch , the grip and feel that he had given when he caught her falling down. How silly of her to fall like that. Why is she even afraid of such small heights too.
When she was getting lost in dream land she was snapped into reality by sanchit's voice. He was talking to someone and told Amrit if everything was ready for dinner. Amrit wanted arohi to make something that day, arohi knew exactly why and pretended she had headache, stomach ache, throat sore, whatever came to her mind every other hour. 'Allright we are having guests, take medicine and get ready , be well dressed' amrit told like it was final and left. 'well dressed? I will show him what well dressed is' she put on a clumsy and mismatched salwar kameez, put oil to her hair , combed it back completely and put a tight plait. Removed her earrings applied vicks all over making her neck and forehead look shiny. Put on afternoon pink lipcolor, she had bought it long ago and it was a mistake, the color never suited her and it was neither pink nor purple, and double layer just made her lips look strange. That was all she had to do. Oh one last thing she thought, pulled out the dresser drawer and went through the bands, found a old band with a big red bow , she put it at the end of the plait. She was glad she never threw it out. She thought of coloring her eyes but left it as the grease from vicks had taken care of it. She took a box of tissue and held it in one hand. She was aware Sanchit will be mad like hell at her, so would sudheer and amrit but oddly she did not care what they said today. She wanted a 'NO' from the dude and nothing else.
She came out of the room and was satisfied to hear a 'ewww' from gauri as she closed her nose by the strong smell of vicks. 'where are you coming from' she asked, 'nowhere , infact I am going down' 'down? Like this? Mom will be super mad' 'so? I am sick, what should I wear a bridal dress?' 'the guest has already come, you are still here' 'should I jump up and down and run?' 'why do I care? Pls. Move away from me, yikes I don't want any headache from this smell'. She heard voices downstairs, oh maharaj padhaar gaye , for some reason she was feeling like she was in school and ready to fight the opposite group. She passed the kitchen and saw bowls of kheer placed on the tray, good, she will make sure she serves the kheer. She put two spoonfuls of salt on the one at the right end and made sure to give it to him. She must be careful though just in case. She lurked for a while in the kitchen looking around if she can damage anything else.
Arjun had come on time, they called for dinner he came for dinner time. He was wearing a casual Tee tonight and blue jeans. He had showered, shaved and was well groomed. He brought champagne and tried to look as pleasant as possible. He had not expected he will be invited to their family dinner so soon. Was Sanchit so desperate that as soon as he showed interest in his business he was acting like he struck gold? Or does he have more plans up his sleeves? Whatever he will be done with dinner, observe more on the members, mainly the dad, and maybe yeah may be that sister. He has to work on that plan too, so why delay? Gauri had seen him from upstairs and thought another guy from her brother's treasure chest, well at least this guy looks smarter than her husband. May be he is different too, who knows, well it is arohi's headache , why does she bother. She texted her friends and left for the club.
On seeing arjun sudheer again had that 'seen somewhere' feeling. No matter how hard he tried he could not make out where or when. After 15 min of talking, he forgot abt it and was at ease with Arjun. Sanchit is right he is suitable for arohi , if arohi does any nakhra he will take care of that and make sure she agrees. Daddu was finding arjun's eyes cold and at the same time filled with lot of emotions, he was not sure if he was the right guy for arohi. she was a lively kid, she needed someone lively. Amrit was happy , she liked him, he talked and looked good, was well to do, looked successful , arohi and him would make a nice couple. She called out that dinner was being served. Arjun wanted to wash his hands first.
Arohi came out of the kitchen and walked to the dining area stopping to wash hands, and she felt someone behind her, 'excuse me' he said, 'oh that voice, how come she is hearing his voice , that is because she had thought of him so much that everyone's voice was sounding like his voice' she did not turn around and moved side ways. He saw the red bow on her plait and the smell of the vicks was too strong for him. He coughed lightly and bent down to wash his hands. She sniffed, coughed and sneezed loudly still with her back to him, 'I should call all my boyfriends and cancel the appointments' she said loudly so he can hear, 'oh and shefu too, we planned to have a sleepover with drinks, will postpone that also, cant smoke with this cold, we just did that two days ago' she said loudly again. He was done washing his hands, heard what she said and did not bother a dime, he had no idea who it was and why she was talking to herself loudly, lunatic family, he thought.
When he left from there, she heaved a sigh of relief, one part was done, next is, going face to face and giving salty kheer, that should do. Amrit called out to her once again. She just came near the kitchen door and said 'arohi kheer lekar aa' 'haan' she said, Amrit had no reason to doubt anything because Arohi had never done anything like this. She knew she will be looking like a doll and arjun will be impressed with her sweet nature. She walked to the table to join them. Their butler was serving them, and arohi walked with the tray of kheer, tucking the tissue box under her arm. Sudheer saw her first as he was facing the kitchen. He first thought she was someone newly appointed then he saw it was Arohi. His eyes grew wide and looked at Amrit, Daddu saw her too he was surprised she was dressed like that. Simi was shocked , 'oh my god arohi has gone crazy, why did she not take a look at her before she came down' Sanchit looked and glared at her, his eyes widened with anger , the girl who was dressed like a star in the party was coming most clumsily dressed and that too in front of Arjun, hopes gone down the drain, first impression had to be the best, now what is he supposed to do, before he could get up and send arohi away, she had reached the table and came behind arjun and promptly kept the bowl at the right end at the side of his plate and proceeded to others. Amrit saw her now , shocked, she understood why everyone were suddenly giving glaring looks, she could not believe arohi could come down like this, she was saying she was sick, but had never acted like this when she was sick before, she could have stayed up in her room. Arohi kept the bowl at everyone's plate making everyone's nostrils flare up with the smell of vicks and came to the opposite side of arjun and kept down hers. Showtime , she thought time to look at him and make some crazy talk may be. She lifted her head to look at him and then she saw him.
The tray fell down from her hands, the tissue box toppled too and her mouth was left open. Arjun kept both his hands under his chin elbows resting on the table and looked at her. 'Arjun you know Arohi, she is my little sister' Sanchit stammered., he said 'oh she is? Hello' he said not able to believe what he saw, she was looking like she was going to a funny party. Arohi was still in shock. She forgot what she had done and all she could think was , the guy is arjun, it is arjun, her brother chose arjun for her, it is the guy she has been dreaming of, arjun arjun, it went like a chant in her head, Finally a stomp on her leg from simi who sitting next to her brought her back, then she realized she was staring at him, causing everyone to stare at her. . 'main, main, woh main '. hello' she stammerd. Then she realized the kheer, oh no what if he eats it now. no no no , she suddenly ran to his side with the bowl next to her plate and took his and put hers there and came back to her place, making everyone give dangerous looks at her for the way she was acting. 'arohi yeh kya kar rahi hai' Amrit tried to bring as much calmness as she could in her tone. Arohi now realized again what she had done , 'woh ... woh, isme thoda jyada hai' oh sweet lord arjun thought to himself, and he is planning to work a plan on her. Let the earth open and take her in, arohi thought at the way arjun looked at her. 'arohiii' Amrit was now visibly mad. Sanchit tried to patch it up 'ha ha haa, sometimes arohi acts a little funny, she doesn't mean like that' 'of course' arjun said.
He then saw the red bow dangling to her hair, she was there talking near the sink, drink, smoke, boyfriend? , what is she upto, he was not sure what to think of. He looked at her again and found her face buried in her plate. whatever it is , he will go ahead with his plan, that is all matters to him.
Sudheer was the one who did not say anything but was the one who had the most angry look. She was scared. She wanted to leave from there, but that would create another session of angry looks. She sat silently, face drained out of color and voice choked out, she tried hard not to drop tears. what had she done, how much she had thought of him how much she had dreamed. She then remembered the color of lipstick she was wearing, she quickly grabbed the napkin and wiped her lips. Then remembered the vicks all over her face and neck. She grabbed simi's napkin and wiped it off. Making everyone glare at her again. Sanchit had so much to ask and talk and Arohi had ruined it all. She did not touch her kheer. Arjun saw that 'you are not touching your favourite dish' he asked eating his. Arohi forcefully smiled and just because he talked to her she took the bowl and started eating, gulping down every bite with water, punishing herself for trying to feed him the salted one. Everyone was eating silently. Arohi could not look at arjun eventhough she wanted to see him very badly.
Daddu saw the sullen face of arohi and tried to give an excuse. 'she has been sick today, she needs rest' Amrit took over 'nahi toh Arohi is always at her best' simi took over next 'yeah , actually arohi looks good in anything, it is just the sickness you know, kaise bhi dress karo yeh bahut '' 'khoobsurat hai' arjun completed.
***
will give another update tomorrow, need to go out. sry not much arjuhi scenes, more of arohi today. :).
Edited by kavyasam - 14 years ago
Udne Ki Aasha
Anupamaa
