ArHi FF: Highway to Hell, note pg 147 - Page 58

Originally posted by: madmaxine

Good one. Maybe I'll title my next chapter The Mahabharat at RM or some such thing. Naniji shall play Krishna, Buaji is Shakuni...you get my drift🤣

Wow! The three muskeeters are definitely grilling ASR big timess...but i lovedd the entire sesson! Cant wait for the next part to thiss...andd yay youre gunna update soonn :D

and woahhh forgot to add...ANJALI AND AADIT... 😳😆 I dontt mindd at alll! 😉

loved it!!!!!!

Please update Part B

Chapter 15, Part 2: Naa-ni comes to the party!

"Actually" Aadit said, stepping forward bravely, "ASR's lovely sister Anjali here invited us to tea." He looked furtively at Anjali, a silent plea in his eyes.

"Yep. That's right. I asked them to tea." Said Anjali.

"Why?" asked Khushi.

"Oh, you know. They're Chotey's colleagues at work, and I thought we should get to know them better." Said Anjali, perjuring herself without a qualm.

"Freddy and Aadit are his colleagues. Nigel is my babysitter." Said Khushi, her expression saying "Try me another sistah!"

"And my boyfriend" said Freddy lazily, draping an arm around Nigel's shoulders. "Nigel's my boyfriend and so he's here with me. She invited significant others, and he's my significant other" said Freddy. Nigel shot him a grateful look. Aadit rolled his eyes.

"You guys have made up? I thought you were fighting." Said Khushi staring at Freddy.

"Oh, we made up last night. I said I was sorry I said nasty things about his taste in clothes. Offered to style him myself. Obviously I haven't begun yet." Said Freddy, casting a sidelong glance at Nigel's torn jeans and ratty sweatshirt. Nigel flashed an annoyed glance at Freddy. "My clothes are fine" He snapped.

"Yes, dear of course they are", said Freddy disingenuously.

"Enough" thundered ASR. "You two, Freddy and Nicholas, settle your domestic squabbles elsewhere."

"It's Nigel" said Aadit, Khushi and Anjali together.

"Whatever!" said ASR. "I've had enough of this farce." He was about to storm out when his Di called out.

"Chotey! Is that anyway to speak to your guests. Come back this minute. I'll go, tell OP to make some masal chai and bring some snacks out." Anjali limped away slowly.

ASR walked back. "Please. Sit down" he bit out, wondering if his couch would magically transform into a bed of nails. They all sat down. Khushi still looked very suspicious.

"These guys are here by invitation. Why are you here?" said ASR snidely to Khushi.

"I came to see Buaji. I thought about what you said. I want to meet her." Said Khushi.

"She's gone to the doctor. Akash,Payal and your Mom have gone with her" Said ASR.

"Alright then. I'll come back some other time" said Khushi, rising.

"Sit down" said ASR forcefully. She sat mutely, a little startled by the violence in his tone. She was in between Aadit and Nigel, who patted her hand as if to sympathize.

"Drink the tea and then leave. Di will have my hide otherwise." He said, by way of explanation.

"So, ASR. You and Minnie know each other from before?" asked Freddy, to his credit, appearing extremely sincere in his apparent cluelessness. Aadit shot a look at ASR who looked like a thundercloud.

"Obviously" said ASR, preferring brevity.

"Min, how do you know ASR?" said Freddy turning to Khushi nonchalantly.

"Oh! You know, he and his family, and my family, they all thought I was sleeping with his sister's husband and him for money several years ago. Actually, I was only sleeping with him. But they thought I was a gold-digger of the worst kind. I got kicked out onto the streets. Usual." Said Khushi in a flippant tone, glaring at Freddy all the while.

"No, really, how do you know ASR?" asked Nigel laughing slightly at what he obviously thought was a bad joke.

"Anjali is married?" asked Aadit looking stricken, and getting straight to the point that interested him. Nobody answered him.

"ASR, how do you really know Minnie?" asked Freddy, directing his direct stare at ASR.

"What she said," said ASR, sounding slightly ashamed.

Nigel turned from red to purple now. Aadit eyes bulged out of their sockets. Freddy looked at ASR through narrowed eyes but said nothing. They sat in uncomfortable silence, shuffling their feet and looking at each other. Only Khushi appeared in command of the situation.

"Is Anjali married?" asked Aadit feebly again. Khushi glared at him.

"None of your damn business," snapped ASR.

"Actually, she's divorced," said the woman herself, walking back into the living room with a tray of tea and snacks.

"Here, let me help you!" Aadit jumped up and took the tray from her hands, looking very happy to hear about her divorce.

"Thanks!" said Anjali looking surprised. "Chivalry isn't dead, apparently" she said dryly.

"Di! You could've asked me" said ASR exasperatedly.

"If I have to ask, its not chivalry," quipped Anjali, ruffling Arnav's hair affectionately. ASR moved his head out of the way. Sometimes she mothered him too much, and after 36 years, he was beginning to get a little tired of it. Khushi's lips quivered. She knew he was annoyed as hell, and had to rein it in for his darling Di's sake.

They drank the tea silently. Funerals had more atmosphere than this little tea party, thought Aadit. Freddy appeared lost in thought. Nigel just looked a hare startled out of its form. Khushi was drinking her tea composedly. ASR just glowered, as was his wont. Aadit kept stealing glances at Anjali. He made one two attempts to talk to her, but ASR gave him such a deadly stare that he decided to retire while in one piece. He would seek her out some other time when her brother wasn't hovering, he thought.

AS they finished their tea, Naniji walked out to join them. ASR looked at her and closed his eyes. This was all they needed, he thought. For his grandmother to join them and ask her share of uncomfortable questions.

"Namaste Naniji!" said Khushi, bending to touch Naniji's feet. Freddy and Nigel and Aadit looked startled. They'd never seen Khushi touch anyone's feet before.

"Arre Khushi bitiya! How are you? And these are your friends? OP told me ASR's colleagues are here for tea. How come you didn't mention it to me before Chotey?" she looked at ASR. He looked exceedingly uncomfortable. "I told Di. She must've forgotten to tell you," he said deciding his Di could face the music. After all she'd gone along with the story. "Anjali bitiya! Its not like you to forget such things," said Naniji looking at Anjali puzzled.

"Woh Naniji! I just," before she could finish, Aadit interrupted by touching Naniji's feet.

"Namaste Naniji. I am Aadit. I work with Khushi" he said. This was the first time he'd touched someone's feet in 20 years, and he hoped he'd done it correctly, he thought. He could use the brownie points, he thought.

"Aadit! Jeete raho" said Naniji peering at him through her glasses. She looked at Freddy and Nigel quizzically. ASR made the introductions. "Nani, this is Freddy Meek, the designer for the new project, and that's Nigel, Freddy's'.er" he trailed off.

"Freddy's brother?" asked Nani, shaking hands with Freddy and Nigel.

"No. Not his brother" said ASR looking extremely uncomfortable and wondering how to explain to his 80+ year old grandmother what Nigel was to Freddy.

"He's my boyfriend Nanny!" said Freddy smoothly.

"Not Nanny. Naa-ni. Nanny is what Nigel is to my girls. Naa-ni means grandmother in Hindi" explained Khushi, always a stickler for the right pronounciation.

"Sorry. Naa-ni" said Freddy getting it right this time. "Nigel's my boyfriend."

"He means that Nigel is a very good friend of his" said ASR hastily.

"I know what he means" said Nani. "I've seen Brokeback Mountain" she smiled at Freddy and Nigel. "Welcome to our home boys" she said, smiling sunnily.

Anjali and Arnav looked stunned. Even Khushi looked a little surprised. "When did you watch Brokeback Mountain?" asked ASR weakly.

"I don't remember. Don't ask silly questions Chotey." Snapped Nani.

"So, all of you work together in London?" asked Nani, now making small talk with the guests.

"Yes, Khushi, Freddy and I work together" said Aadit. "Nigel is Khushi's babysitter, like she explained."

"Oh yes. I heard that. I think it's wonderful you have such nice people to work with and take care of your little ones" said Nani, smiling at Khushi.

"Yes Nani. I'm very lucky!" Khushi smiled at Nani, but glared at Freddy and Nigel, nipping Aadit in the hand as she spoke.

"Ow!" Aadit yelped.

"Is anything the matter Aadit?" asked Khushi innocently.

"No. No. Nothing at all" said Aadit, rubbing his hand as he spoke.

"The samosas are very good" said Nigel who had finally found his voice and thought Nani seemed like a friendly, harmless soul.

"Oh yes. Anjali bitiya makes wonderful samosas!" said Naniji, smiling at Anjali fondly.

"Oh! Did Anjali make these? Then I'll have more." Said Aadit beaming at Anjali, picking up 1 in each hand.

"You can eat them one at a time" said ASR dryly. "They're not going anywhere. Also, please call my Di, Anjali-ji or Ms.Raizada" he said sternly.

"Chotey! It's OK. I prefer Anjali. Makes me feel young. Please call me Anjali, and I'll call you Aadit, OK?" she said, smiling at Aadit.

"Absolutely Anjali!" said Aadit, saying her name on purpose.

"By the way, I did not make those samosas today. OP did, just clarifying" said Anjali.

"Well then, we must come back some other day to eat samosas that you've made. I'm sure they'll be absolutely delicious" said her most fervent admirer, Aadit.

Freddy and Khushi rolled their eyes at his obviousness. Even Nigel looked amused. ASR looked like he might punch Aadit in the nose.

"Of course, you're very welcome to drop in anytime. Just let me know and I'll have the samosas ready" said Anjali.

Naniji, who could smell a romance from a mile away, also chimed in. "Actually, why don't you all come by for dinner some day? That'll be even better," she said.

"I'd love to," said Aadit, his face lighting up like a Christmas tree.

"Pleasure's all ours," said Freddy gallantly. He liked this little old lady.

"Khushi bitiya?" said Nani.

"Oh Naniji. I have too much work. Plus I can't leave the children" she said.

"Bring them too. I want to meet them," said Naniji imperiously.

"Err. Naniji I don't think it's a good idea," said Khushi.

"Why not? Chotey telle me they're wonderful," said Naniji.

Khushi looked at ASR, who looked right back at her as if to say, "Ball's in your court."

"OK" said Khushi, knowing she could never refuse Naniji.

"Alright then, Chotey will arrange the date and time with you. I have to go. It's time for my daily serial," she said, standing up.

"Oh! Which one is that?" asked Khushi.

"It's called Iss Pyaar ko kya naam doon" said Naniji. The hero reminds me of my Chotey you see. But the heroine, she's not at all like you, Khushi bitiya!" she winked at Khushi and walked off.

"I must be going too," said Khushi. "Thanks for the tea," she said stiffly to Anjali.

Anjali merely smiled in response.

"I'll see you and your fans out," said ASR.

"Fans?" asked Khushi sounding puzzled.

"Freddy, Aadit, Nigel, FANs, gettit?" he asked, smiling.

"Ha-ha. Joke" said Khushi, walking to the door followed by her faithful disciples.

After saying goodbye, they walked out together. She glared at them.

"You boys have some explaining to do. I don't buy all this tea nonsense. Why did you come to ASR's home?" she asked them. They scarpered like the 3 blind mice.

"You can run, but you can't hide. I WILL get you," she called after them. She grinned as she got into her car. "My very own 3 idiots. Vidhu Vinod Chopra should've stolen my story instead of Chetan Bhagat's she thought. "It would've been an even bigger hit!"

Have at it people😊! This has been a fun chapter to write. I enjoyed writing it thoroughly. Hope you enjoy reading it too😃!

NANJI SAW BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN??? 🤣

:)

you can bother me with PMs any time!

Loved the update! Nani is the most awesomest nani ever! Haha.. Brokeback Mountain? That was hilarious! This was one of my favorite parts ever! And poor Aadit's acting like a love sick puppy. What an interesting dinner it's going to be!

Thanks for the update and PM!

Thanks for all the wonderful comments on part 1. I have to run...have a party to throw tonight😊. Will come back to reply when I have a moment.

Haha it was funny :) continue soon :)