ArHi FF: Check Mate! (completed) - Page 8

Anjali was dressed beautifully as usual... she was radiantly taking care of all the festive arrangements... Kushi and Payal helped her too..

"Kushi after a long time you are this cheerful!" Anjali commented...
"Yes di, we both never had an oppurtunity to celebrate this festival officially as we didnt have brothers... now after getting married, we are getting a chance to do this festival..."
"We still dont have brothers Kushi!" Payal reminded her
"But still we get to see the world's greatest sis tying Rakhi to her beloved brothers!" Kushi jumped and hugged Anjali.
"Kushi, you are bringing in som much excitement with your mere presence... I was worried about your state of mind for a few days... you were so gloomy last few days, you have come back to your normal self" Nani told her.
****
Anjali performed pooja and tied Rakhi to Arnav and Akaash.
when she finished, Kushi brought out a thal. Everyone were giving her confused looks.
"Actually I thought, " Kushi told smiling sweetly at shyam "since I and jiji do not have brother, we could tie Rakhi to Shyam ji?" Kushi declared emphatically.
"what?" was collectively heard from shyam, Arnav, Payal and Anjali
while Anjali was so moved with tears, Payal was giving her stares which plainly asked"how could you kushi? that slime? our brother?" Arnav could not help that "smart move Kushi" smile while Shyam was devastated!
"Thats really a great idea kushi" Anjali said wiping her tears
"No, no Kushiji...thats not posible!" Shyam stammered.
"Why shyamji? you wont accept me as your little sister?" kushi asked him
"No, I mean I didnot ... I am not ready for the function" Shyam stammered again
"what we need is all a Rakhi, sweets and pooja thal... I have made it ready see? and actually I got 2 sets for me and JiJi" she smiled at him
Anjali pulled him to the center where kushi was standing.
"I didnt get a gift" shyam told helplessly cursing himself for staying there while the festival was happeneing...

Kushi came with the pooja thal did pooja and asked him to show his hand.
shyam was feeling High and dry. She was smirking at him, he turned to looked at an amused Arnav who was watching this curiosly. "bloody shit! I should have feigned something and moved out of the house at this time" Shyam thought to himself
He snapped back to what was happening. Since he was lost in thoughts, Anjali had held his hand for Kushi and she was in the process of tying Rakhi to him. He tried to pull, but it would be obvious...He kept quiet and accepted it...
"But kushi you should have atleast given me a clue, I would have got gifts for you and Payal" Anjali told while Payal did it for shyam.
"no problem Di, the thought is all that matters.." Kushi told her.
"But we can give Shagun... "Anjali told, bring out her purse and handing some money to shyam asking him to give it to Payal and Kushi

Shyam gave it to payal, but an Idea struck him... "You sprang this on me kushi? I will give you a shock which will wipe that smirk of your husband's face" he said moving to kushi.
He gave her the money, She accepted it with a "beware of me" look
He suddenly hugged her in front of everyone, the move was so sudden, that she was taken by surprise,
"Kushi, That was a very nice gesture on your part to tie Rakhi to me...Now I have got two of you who LOVE me"
She tried to push him away and finally succeded with such force that he nearly tripped and fell backwards...

Once when only Arnav, khushi and shyam was alone,
shyam grinned.
"Oh god, trust you Kushiji to come up with Ideas to display affection in front of the family...she is really god sent Anrav!"
Arnav was so angry that he held Shyam's collar but too disgusted to look or talk to him. He felt like throwing up...
"today you both have degraded the beautiful relationship that a rakhi binds" with that he left to his room
Kushi ran behind him
"Arnavji, please listen, I didnt..."
"I should have known Kushi, you looked so happy today...yucks Kushi! your thoughts!" he slammed to the door on her face.

"DM ! another attempt, another wall.. please give me strength" she cried out, moving towards the pool and looked up at the stars... After sometime, her thoughts which had gone from happiness, to the feel of success, then helplessness, dread, sense of failure once again and dejectedness in mere minutes once again cooled down to a strong determination.

to be continued...