i initially started writing this series during the cocktail party fiasco last yr coz i absolutely hated the crap the cvs shoved down my throat.
aft tat there was a personal emergency at home & i took a break frm IF & writing. Thanks 2 my hubby's motivation & kind words/messages frm all lovely folks out here in IF i am back to writing full fledged.
later on i was really confused if i need 2 continue this coz in the show the story has progressed quickly 2 ARHI marriage & i was thinking that this series w'd no longer b relevant or interesting.
But i am getting lots of PMs asking me 2 continue this series. initially the plan was to ve 1 or max 2 more chapters culminating in ARHI confession to each other & 2 their families. Do lemme know if u guys want me 2 continue & finish this series. if i get sufficient requests asking me 2 complete tis i ll update it. Else i ll discontinue this. Leaving the choice 2 the readers that is all u lovely folks 😊
Here is the next part. Sorry that it turned out a little too long 😳
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Links 2 my other works
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Link to the prev chap of this series Let the Games Begin
OS : Cocktail Party Series – The Plot thickens
Anjali saw PAYASH & NK sitting in the living room speaking in hushed tones. They were acting weird & secretive since morning but she dint have the time to investigate more. Arnav had crossed all lines real & imaginary today with Kushi & Anjali was hell-bent on extracting her pound of flesh. She wouldn't let him get away with his misdemeanors this time. She would make him apologize to Kushi. He was sure to be at the poolside mucking up his garden.
She was muttering under her breath all the hot stuff that she was planning to tell him reaching the explosion zone quickly enough & looked up. The scene unfolding before her stunned her befuddling her brain & numbing her senses.
"CHOTE AND AND KUSHI? Hey Bagwan!". She was dazed & stared at Kushi & Arnav hugging each other passionately. Arnav had actually buried his face in her hair & seemed to be kissing her repeatedly. Kushi was clinging to him not showing any intention of letting go. It looked like only some heavy machinery had to be employed to unglue them. Anjali closed her mouth which had dropped open & her mind whirring away at dizzy pace she made her way to the living room.
Payal was the first to notice her & immediately realized that something was wrong. Anjali was looking shell shocked & was muttering incoherently.
She same nearer & they could hear her mumbling something about Unbelievable, Chote, Kushi, poolside & they exchanged a knowing look.
"DI" Anjali was startled by NK's yell & almost jumped from the shock.
"Di what's wrong?"
Anjali couldn't look at their faces & NK smirked.
"Are you coming from the poolside?"
Anjali nodded mutely & then again resumed her mumblings.
"Relax Di. We should all keep away from that love nest from now on if we really care for our lives"
Anjali realized a split second later what he had just said & stared at them stunned.
"You guys know about Chote & Kush i mean you know about them & how they..."
Her voice trailed off & she was looking extremely annoyed.
"What the hell are you guys playing at hiding such a major thing from me. Oh how i wish i could kill you all."
For the second time in the day she made them realize she was the elder sister of ASR. She looked extremely dangerous, her eyes glinting angrily.
"Oh Di come on it's not our fault if you are deaf & blind. It took just a few days for me to sniff out that something fishy was going on between these two & all this while you guys have been happily oblivious to all these happenings right under your nose. You RAIZADAS are indeed unbelievable."
Anjali had the grace to look embarrassed. She was fuming.
"Oh how I wish I could strangle chote. How dare he hides this from me. This must have been the reason why he broke up with Lavanya & he never breathed a word. I will kill him with my bare hands. Oh wait till I get my hands on him once he manages to unglue himself from Kushi."
NK was rolling with laughter while PAYASH were aghast to find Anjali hopping mad. It was so uncharacteristic of her. Finally Akash decided to play with his life & held Anjali's hand gently.
"Oh Di come on is this not what you had always been rooting for. For Bhai to find a soul mate. Don't mar it by your anger no matter how justified or heart felt." Anjali looked affronted.
"Akash how dare you say that. Of course I am happy for chote & couldn't agree more with his choice of Kushi. But why all this secrecy."
"Knowing Nanav it's a miracle that he even realized that he loves Kushi."
The others nodded in unison.
"Oh Di now that you know why don't you be our co-conspirator in getting those two love birds together. I mean get them to confess their feelings to their respective families."
Anjali brightened up immediately.
"This is the best way for me to get back at chote." She smiled on finding the others high-fiving in glee.
********
"Arnavji…………………."
"Hmmm…………………"
"Arnavji…………………."
"Ummm…………………."
Kushi started getting nervous. Arnav had buried his face on her shoulders & was planting tender open mouthed kisses on her neck, ears, hair, shoulder, jaw. A part of her was simply soaking in the feeling, lost completely in his lov, not wanting him to stop but a small rational part of her was urging her to break apart lest someone found them in such a compromising position. With a mighty effort she gently extricated herself from his embrace only to behold an extremely annoyed looking Arnav.
"DAMMIT Kushi why do you always ruin the moment." He made to grab her again but Kushi slinked away.
"Arnavji someone might see us."
"So?????"
"It doesn't matter to you but it matters to me LAAD GOVERNOR." He was taken aback by her tone.
"WT*"
"Now don't you go WT* WT* on me again. Everyone would be scandalized to see me behaving like this with you. What exactly is our relationship? My family would murder me if they find me acting so shameless."
The next minute Arnav had grabbed her in a vice-grip.
"Let me get this right. So you are ashamed to touch me or kiss me?"
Kushi sighed wearily.
"Arnavji obviously it's not right doing all this stuff before marriage. In fact coming to think of it you don't even believe in relationships & marriage so how do you expect me to trust you? How long can we be like this? Of course I can never think of spending my life with someone else but fat chance that I will be spending it with you going by your track record of scoffing about love & marriage."
Arnav released her & closed his eyes. Finding this the perfect opportunity to make good her escape she turned quickly.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
It was barely a whisper & she couldn't believe that he had actually said those words. She turned & simply stared at him. He was staring back at her & their staring contest was abruptly ended by his ringing phone. He flicked his Bluetooth on & she walked away miffed. Why did his phone always ring at the wrong time.
She came back to the living room with a forlorn look on her face to find the entire mob congregated there discussing enthusiastically about the party. There was a mini Mt Everest of expensive dresses on the table. Anjali pulled her & made her sit on the sofa.
"Come on Kushi choose the dress that you would like to wear for the party! How about this beautiful Anarkali."
"Kushi wear a saree for the party."
That sexy voice kept playing in her head.
"No Di I thought of wearing a saree."
"Kushi a saree? But you always complain when Buaji makes you wear a saree saying it's very cumbersome & uncomfortable. I thought you hate wearing sarees."
"Come on jiji. When did I ever say that! I just love wearing saree. I used to do that just to annoy Buaji so that she can go Hay re Nandkishore & Sankadevi. Keeps me entertained."
Payal was completely confused now.
"Now I know why Buaji calls you SankaDevi. Teek hai. Look at this beautiful blue saree. It's your favourite colour na or this yellow. You love these bright colours."
Again his handsome face & those dreamy eyes floated in her mental retina. The way he looked at her during the photo shoot & then during Diwali.
"KUSHI………"
She was startled out of her trance by Payal's yell.
"Hmmm actually jiji I don't really like this saree. Let me see if there is anything better."
Payal decided that even by her usual standards she was acting totally cuckoo.
"OK how about this magenta one with lovely sequin works or this pink one."
"Ummm woh actually jiji I think that saree is really beautiful."
They all turned to look at the saree she was pointing to. It was a ravishing red one with beautiful hand work. Kushi had fallen in love with it the moment it had caught her eyes. She could imagine his smoking eyes undressing her lovingly & her breath hitched. She could imagine those penetrating eyes scorching her with their unnerving intensity.
Everyone was startled to find her smiling to herself. Her face looked dreamy & had an angelic glow. Suddenly Anjali's brain clicked & she whispered in Payal's ears.
"Red is chote's favourite colour."
Payal smirked & then shook Kushi hard.
"Kushi snap out of it. It's not looking that great. This pink dress would look heavenly on you."
"Jiji I am not wearing THAT dress!" pleaded Kushi to Payal who had seemed to turn a deaf ear to her entreaties.
"What rubbish Kushi what's wrong with you today. First you insist that you will wear a saree arguing with me that you have always loved sarees. Now you are refusing to wear the dress of my choice. Since when did you start wearing red. You don't even like that colour."
"What rubbish jiji Actually what's wrong with YOU today. First you insist that I hate saree & now this nonsense about me hating red. When did I ever tell you that I hate red. I love red. It's bright & cheerful & lovely & peppy and and………... Red is the colour of kumkum which is auspicious to my Devi Maiyya. It reminds you of breaking dawn & mesmerizing sunset, spicy chilly, innocent rose, delicious strawberries and and………………….."
"Lips………" NK completed with a wicked smirk. Kushi blushed profusely.
"And NK, add Kushi's cheeks to that list." Anjali said & laughed out loud. Kushi blushed a deeper shade now completely resembling a tomato.
Finally Payal took pity on her & relented. She couldn't contain her smile when Kushi continued to caress the dress lovingly. Anjali signaled to Payal who gave her a thumbs up signal. Anjali mumbled an excuse & left. Payal sat next to Kushi & snatched the dress away from her.
"Kushi I want to talk to you about something very important. It's regarding Arnavji."
Kushi's head snapped up & Payal had to make a mighty effort to control her grin.
"Actually Akashji & I have been discussing this for quite some time. Arnavji moved mountains to get us together, convinced mami to agree to this alliance & even followed all your foolish ideas to get us to confess. So I thought I need to return the favour by helping him resolve his differences with Lavanyaji so that they can get back together."
"WHHHAAAT"
Kushi yelled & got up. Akash took the cue & continued.
"Yeah Kushi I mean bhai has done so much for us. I feel so guilty that I am enjoying so much when his engagement has actually broken. I had always wanted him to marry first. So Payal & I have decided to act cupid. You gave me so many crazy ideas to win your jiji's heart, why don't you do the same for bhai. I mean can you think up of some crazy scheme to get them hitched up again. I have been noticing bhai for the past few days. Since the time Lavanya left he is looking forlorn & heart broken. He seems to be missing her."
Kushi's face had turned ashen. She collapsed on the sofa & dint notice the trio throwing each other wicked grins.
***********
"Chote……………"
Arnav had been standing near the pool mucking around his garden looking totally lost. Anjali smirked inwardly & went near him.
"Chote I need to discuss something very important with you."
Arnav ran his fingers through his tousled hair in a harried manner & mumbled.
"Not now Di. Not now."
"Come on chote don't be a kill joy. Actually it's about NK & Kushi. They seemed to be getting along very well & also seem to genuinely like each other so I thought we can go & talk to Nani about marriage and…….. CHOTE…………………."
Arnav had dropped 1 of the pot with a resounding crash.
"WT*. Di are you mad. Ku Ku Kushi with that cartoon NK. NEVER. I MEAN ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND. YOU ARE UNBELIEVABLE. NEVER HEARD A MORE NONSENSICAL IDEA."
He stormed angrily into his room not noticing Anjali who was doubled up with laughter.
*************
Kushi got up suddenly, mumbled about some work she had forgotten & rushed out. All three burst out laughing punching each other for having hit the target bang on with their first attempt itself.
Kushi was furious.
"What the hell does that LAAD GOVERNOR think of himself. I mean pining away for Lavanya. What bull shit. Hey Devi Maiyya. What is happening. It's impossible to understand that Rakshas. Never says anything. Sometimes blows hot & sometimes cold. He will drive even you crazy with his erratic antics."
Muttering to herself she dint realize where she was heading & the loud WT* brought her back to her senses. She looked coldly at the creature seated royally on the green settee, head buried in that stupid laptop. She stormed towards him & closed the laptop with a loud bang.
"WT*"
"I am warning you Raizada. Don't you dare start your WT*. What the hell do you think you are doing. Mooning & mopping around. Do you have any idea what's happening around you. People are mistaken that you are still smitten with Lavanyaji. Jiji & Jiju are already talking about schemes to get you both together. What the hell are you playing at. Rakshas LAAD GOVERNOR Kahin ke!"
"Oh shut up Kushi. Stop complaining & set your house in order. Dint I warn you. Dint I tell you to stop prancing around with NK. Now Di is having some silly idea of getting you married to that cartoon. It's all your fault. SHIT why don't you pray to your Devi Maiyya to bless you with some brains. You sorely need some grey matter up there. Always messing up things with your crazy antics."
Kushi let out a growl, grabbed his pullover & dragged him so that they were mere inches apart. Arnav was too shocked to even react.
"Forget about me growing brains. How about you spouting a heart. Sometimes I wonder if you even like me. Always taunting & insulting me." She couldn't control her tears anymore & flopped on the settee. Arnav knelt & held her hand.
"Shhh Kushi you know that I can't stand your tears. Please don't cry. I don't know why Di is behaving in such a weird manner."
Kushi wiped her tears & hiccupped slightly.
"Even jiji & jiju are acting weird. I mean jiji was hell bent on preventing me from wearing a red saree for the party. Of course I know how much you love red and………….." She blushed & stole a glance at Arnav who was looking aghast as if he had been socked in the eye.
"SHIT!!!!!!!!!!"
Kushi simply gaped at him.
"SHIT They know. Kushi they know about us dammit. Crap what a mess" He ran his fingers wildly through his hair.
"Kushi tell me the truth, did you tell anything to Payal about us."
"Of course not!" She retorted indignantly.
"Ok all this drama is just to annoy us. They know about us. Oh how dare they mess with me. I can understand that cartoon doing all this. But Akash & Di. Unbelievable. Oh I will make them pay & pay big time. How dare they plot behind my back. I will get back at them."
Kushi was simply staring at him, mouth opening & shutting wordlessly like a confused gold fish.
"But Arnavji…………………"
"Oh Shut up Kushi. Let me think. Look they know but they don't know that we know that they know. So let's try & go one up on them. They will learn a lesson. Never ever cross Arnav Singh Raizada. Oh how I wish I could get my hands on that idiot. It must have been his plan. Oh boy will I make him pay. I will throttle him with my bare hands. Bury him alive & dance on the remains. How dare he. That cartoon, that trouble maker. Oh NK I will make you pay. Oh I will. Just you wait & watch."
"SHUT UP…………………." Kushi screamed & stunned Arnav into silence. An eerie silence engulfed them, a throbbing unease permeating all over the room. Arnav stared mesmerized as Kushi threw him one scornful look before storming out of the room.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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