CHAPTER 35. WHEN GEET AND KHUSHI MEET
Place - Khurana Mansion
Soni entered her room after taking bath only to stop in her tracks. There stood Maan Singh Khurana rummaging through her wardrobe! She tried to stop her smile erupting on her face as Maan grumbled about not finding the right dress. Words like 'not perfect' and 'wrong' reached her ears as he tossed her clothes outside the wardrobe. She schooled her facial expression to neutral and walked towards him. She tapped on his shoulder but he did not notice as he was absorbed in searching the right dress for his Soni. Amusement filled Soni as she tried to stop her self from laughing. She tapped his shoulder again but he shrugged her hand off. She controlled the giggles trying to come out of her mouth and tapped him again.
"Kya Hai? Dekh nahi sakte main busy hoon?" Maan turned around to scold the person disturbing him. Here he was trying to find the right dress for Soni, and someone wanted to disturb him. How dare they? He opened his mouth to blast the person disturbing him when words got stuck in his throat. There stood Soni in a bathrobe and wet hair. But that was not what shocked him though. It was her teasing smile and laughing eyes. She gave a thorough glance to all the clothes lying on the floor and Maan embarrassed looked away. She raised her eyebrow as if asking him what he was doing here. He looked around trying to avoid her inquiring glance. Kya Karoon? Kya Boloon? But he straightened his back. He was not doing anything wrong. He was Maan Singh Khurana and Maan Singh Khurana never did wrong things. He was doing what she did too. He was about to answer her in his stern voice when without any warning Soni fainted in his arms. Maan was alarmed. He felt the panic rise from his insides. He squashed the panic and took a deep breath to calm himself. He picked Soni up and laid her on the bed. He called up the Doctor in worry.
Soni woke up later only to see a working Maan sitting on the couch and working on his laptop placed on the coffee table. She smiled at his profile when suddenly she realized that she was dressed in a bathrobe only. She blushed as she hugged the bathrobe tightly. Maan looked up from his work to see an awake and blushing Soni. He smiled tenderly and got up from his place. He walked towards her and sat beside her. "Ab kaisa feel kar rahi ho?" Soni looked at him as he asked the question and smiled at him. "Theek hoon. Par Mujhe hua kya tha?" Maan gently pushed away a strand of hair coming on her face and cupped her face with his right hand. She subconsciously pressed her cheek into his hand. "Tum behosh ho gayi thi. Doctor se baat ki toh unhonein bataaya ki this is common. Tumne Mujhe dara diya." Soni blushed at Maan's last sentence. Her eyes noticed the clock on the wall right behind Maan and they widened. "Nau baje gaye, Maan. Aapko Office nahi jaana?" She spoke in a worried tone. Maan smiled at her and spoke, "Main aaj office nahi jaa raha hoon." She gave him an enquiring look and he elaborated, "Dadi aur NT Amritsar ke liye nikal gaye hain. Tum behosh hui toh Dadi tumhaare tabiyat ke liye pareshaan hogayi. Isliye mannat maangna chaahti thi. Toh NT ko lekar woh Golden Temple gayi hai. Aur Dev Office gaya hai. Tumhaare khayaal rakhne ke liye koi nahi tha toh Dadi ne Mujhe hukum diya hai ki main tumhaare saath poora din ghar par rahoon." Soni looked at him in surprise. She was shocked that he was going to be with her the whole day. He smiled at him and she looked away in shyness. She slowly whispered, "Mujhe kapde pehenna hai." Maan nodded but stayed seated. Soni looked at him in exasperation. "Oh!" Maan got her hint. He got up and walked towards the room's door when he stopped and turned towards her wardrobe. She looked at him in confusion as he removed a pink suit for her and kept it on the bed. She smiled at his sweetness while he walked out of the door.
It was afternoon and both Maan and Soni had their lunches. Poor Soni! Maan had almost confined her to the bed and she was totally bored. Maan was looking through his files while filling the tender when he realized that he was missing some files.
Place - Khurana Constructions
"Hello Khurana Constructions. How may I help you?", Khushi spoke into the receiver as she sorted through MK Sir's email. Suddenly, she straightened up as Maan's voice boomed into her ears. Arre! Sir toh aaj Aafis nahi aane waale the! She listened as Maan instructed her to bring certain files to his home and where to find the files. She disconnected the call and entered Maan's cabin. After some thorough search she found the files. She informed Sasha of MK's Sir's instructions and wandered out of the building with the files in her hand and her bag hanging on her shoulder to catch a rickshaw.
Place - Khurana Mansion
Khushi looked at the house interiors with wide eyes. Yeh toh ghar nahi mahal hai! She looked at the beautiful paintings mounted on the wall and the expensive curtains. Hey Devi Maiyya! Dilli mein kitne bade bade ghar hain! Ek woh Shantivan toh ek yeh Khurana Mansion! Suddenly, her roving eyes stopped on the stairs as Maan descended down them. MK Sir toh koi Raja lag rahe hain is mahal ke! Maan reached her and motioned her to follow him. She followed him as he led her upstairs and her eyes kept on roving as she took in the beauty of the house. They entered a room and Khushi noticed a girl around her age lying on the bed with a bored expression on the face while the couch had papers lying around them. MK Sir's laptop also was positioned on a coffee table. The girl did not notice Khushi and whined at MK Sir, "Maan, yeh kya hai? Thodi si toh chakkar aayi hai. Aur aapne Mujhe iss bed par bandi banaa diya. Yeh theek nahi hai, Maan." MK Sir sat beside her and sighed. "Jaan, tum do baar behosh ho chuki ho. Tumhein kuch ho gaya toh? It is better you stay here." MK Sir told her in a tone which told Khushi that he must have told her this around hundred times. But Khushi can understand what the girl felt. Even she hated to be confined to the bed. Suddenly the girl noticed Khushi and smiled at her, she looked enquiringly at MK Sir. He looked at Khushi and beckoned her closer. "Yeh Khushi hai, meri secretary aur Yeh Soni hai, meri mangetar." Both the girls smiled at each other when Maan got a call. "Khushi tum thodi der Soni ke saath baitho aur main zara yeh call attend karta hoon." He walked out of the door and Soni sat up on the bed. She beckoned Khushi to sit beside her. Khushi sat down on the bed with trepidation. She remembered Soni's dhamki to MK Sir and also remembered how MK Sir had gotten pale at her call. Hey Devi Maiyya! Raksha Karna!
Both Khushi and Soni looked at each other awkwardly not knowing what to say. They looked here and there for few minutes when Khushi could not resist her self. "Aapko hua kya hai?" Soni looked at Khushi as her brain processed the question. "Kuch dino pehle Mujhe sar par chot lagi thi. Toh kabhi kabhi chakkar aate hai. Ab tak sirf do baar aayi hai. Ab tumhi bataao Khushi, kya iske liye Mujhe aise bed pe leta dena chaahiye kya?" Soni spoke in an indignant tone. Khushi shook her head. "Hey Babaji! Aap hi Mujhe is kaid se aazaad karo!" Soni spoke while looking at the ceiling. Khushi grinned. Arre! Yeh bhi humaari tarah bhagwaan se baat karti hai! "Arre! Aap bhi bhagwaan se baat karti hain. Hum bhi apne Devi Maiyya se baat karte hain." Soni smiled at her happily. Chalo! Koi toh mila mere jaisa! Khushi smiled back. Humne socha tha yeh toh usse kitni alag hai! Before they could talk more, Maan entered the room. "Dev ka phone tha. Soni, Mujhe ek urgent meeting attend karna hai. Hope you don't mind main jaake aaoon toh. Jyaada time nahi lagega." Soni nodded her head vigourously. Chalo, main thoda hil toh loongi. Shukriya Babaji! Maan looked Khushi, "Khushi, tum Soni ke saath yahin ruk jaao." Khushi nodded her head happily. Arre Waah! Poori dopahar humaare jaise insaan ke saath waqt bitaana! Dhanyawaad Devi Maiyya!
As they heard Maan's car drive away, Soni asked Khushi, "Achcha Khushi! Mujhe apne baare mein bataao." Khushi smiled at her, "Hum Lucknow ke hain. Humaare ghar mein hum hain, babuji hain, amma hain aur jiji hain. Unka naam Paayal hai. Ek mahine ke baad unki sagaai hai aur aapko aana hai. Hum Lucknow mein hi kaalej mein B. Com padhte hain. Humaara ek mahine mein aakhri saal shuru hoga. Hum yahaan pocket money kamaane aaye hain. Aur humein Daadi ne KC mein kaam diya. Woh bahut achchi hain. Woh ghar par nahi hai? Aur aapke ghar mein kaun kaun hai?" Soni felt giddy. This girl was a chatterbox just like her. Hum dono ki jodi khoob jamegi! Suddenly, she frowned as she heard Khushi's questions. "Dadima Golden Temple gayi hai mere liye dua karne! Aur mere ghar pe kaun hai Mujhe hi pata nahi. Woh kya haina, kuch dino pehle ek accident mein apni yaaddaasht kho chuki hoon. Maan ne bataaya ki humaare accident ke pehle sagaai honewaali thi. Hum ek doosre se pyaar karte the. Mera iss duniya mein koi nahi hain. Main ek anaath hoon. Ab jo bhi woh yahin hai. Ek pyaari Dadima hai, ek sweet sa devar Dev, ek natkhat Devrani NT, aur ek mere pyaare Maan." She started the monologue with a sad tone but ended it with sweet smile on her face. Khushi smiled dreamily at the sweet love story. "Tumhaare life mein koi hai kya special?" Soni asked curiously. Before she could stop herself, Khushi blurted out, "Haina, Arnavjiā¦." As Khushi realized what she said she slapped her hands on her mouth while Soni looked at her mischievously. "Yeh Arnavji kaun hai?" Soni enquired and Khushi felt her whole face heat up. She looked away as Soni continued to pester her. Finally, Khushi could not resist herself and blurted out her whole story. She told Soni how she met Arnav and how they became friends and how they got closer and how he is important to her now. Soni smiled as she heard Khushi talk and realized something which Khushi had to realize. Arnav loved Khushi! She smiled at herself as she realized that Khushi was also sailing in the same boat she was sailing. Both were not in love yet but soon they will fall in it.
Suddenly, Khushi shrieked and pointed to the window bringing Soni out of her thoughts. Soni turned to look outside as Khushi shouted "Baarish." Both ran to window and waved their hands through the rain. "June mein baarish! Yeh kaise hua?" Khushi questioned. "Arre! Yeh bin mausam barsaat hai. Pichle mahine bhi hua tha." As soon as Soni said that, both the girls blushed as they remembered the last rain. "Baarish mein bheegein?", Soni questioned Khushi excitedly. Khushi frowned, "Par aapki tabiyat?" Soni waved her off. "Tum hona! Behosh hui toh sambhaal lena. Chalein?" Khushi thought for a moment then nodded her head excitedly. Both ran to the terrace and stood in the rain. Suddenly, Soni sneaked upon Khushi and started tickling her. Khushi retaliated and they had a tickle fight. After few minutes, they stopped the fight and lied on the floor. Suddenly, Soni had an idea. She signaled Khushi to wait, ran downstairs and entered Maan's room. She took the radio from his bedside table and ran upstairs. She carefully placed it near the door but on the inside part of the house so that it would not get wet and played it. As soft music wafted in she entered the terrace and reached Khushi who was spinning in the rain.
Behta Hai Mann Kahin
Kahaan Jaante Nahin
Khushi noticed Soni and both of them giggled.
Behta Hai Mann Kahin
Kahaan Jaante Nahin
Koi Rokle Yahin
Both of them started spinning in the rain while giggling.
Bhaage Re Mann Kahin
Aage Re Mann
Chala Jaane Kidhar Jaanu Na
Bhaage Re Mann Kahin
Aage Re Mann
Chala Jaane Kidhar Jaanu Na
Khushi hugged Soni from behind and both swayed to the music.
Behta Hai Mann Kahin
Kahaan Jaante Nahin
Koi Rokle Yahin
Khushi started tickling Soni and Soni's laughter reverberated in the terrace.
Bhaage Re Mann Kahin
Aage Re Mann
Chala Jaane Kidhar Jaanu Na
Bhaage Re Mann Kahin
Aage Re Mann
Chala Jaane Kidhar Jaanu Na
Soni ran after Khushi while Khushi ran to save herself. They circled the terrace more than twice. They ran around like small kids with happiness echoing around. Soon, Soni caught hold of Khushi's Duppatta and pulled it. Khushi held it and both had a tug of war. They pulled and pushed and the poor Duppatta was pulled from each side. As Khushi lost her grip, both fell down. They looked at each other and started laughing.
Haaanā¦ā¦
Chali Thandi Hawaa
Both smiled at the sky.
Haaanā¦
Sang Mann Bhi Gaya
They closed their eyes as they felt the rain on their faces.
Dhoondhoo Main Kahaan Usko
Soni got up and stood in front of Khushi. Khushi looked at her.
Batlaaye Koi Mujhko
Soni lip synced the next line as she gave some dhumka.
Ke Haan Haan Haan Re
Soni started swaying to the music while lip syncing the words.
Bhaage Re Mann Kahin
Aage Re Mann
Chala Jaane Kidhar Jaanu Na
Bhaage Re Mann Kahin
Aage Re Mann
Chala Jaane Kidhar Jaanu Na
Soni pouted and sang the next lines.
Behta Hai Mann Kahin
Kahaan Jaante Nahin
Koi Rokle Yahin
As music started, Khushi got up and Soni took her in her arms and started doing waltz while both of them laughed.
Haaannn
Haaye Aisa Samaa
Khushi questioned Soni as sang along the next line.
Hmmmā¦
Phir Hoga Kahaan
Suddenly, Khushi ran away and threw her Duppatta in the air as she lip synced the next lines.
Jee Loon Main Ise Khulke
Soni lip synced the next line as she faced the sky and closed her eyes.
Saawan Mein Zara Ghulke
Khushi came in front of her and sang next line.
Arre Sunn Sunn Sunn
Soni winked at her and both of them swayed to the song.
Bhaage Re Mann Kahin
Aage Re Mann
Chala Jaane Kidhar Jaanu Na
Bhaage Re Mann Kahin
Aage Re Mann
Chala Jaane Kidhar Jaanu Na
Soni caught hold of Khushi's hand and twirled her around.
Behta Hai Mann Kahin
Kahaan Jaante Nahin
Koi Rokle Yahin
Khushi caught Soni's hand and twirled her around.
Bhaage Re Mann Kahin
Aage Re Mann
Chala Jaane Kidhar Jaanu Na
They stood in the waltz position and started waltzing around.
Bhaage Re Mann Kahin
Aage Re Mann
Kahin Aage Kidhar Jaanu Na
It was already five by the time both the girls entered the house. They had spent the whole afternoon singing and dancing to the songs on the radio in the rain. And luckily, the radio station also played songs based on rain. As they entered the house, Khushi realized a problem. She voiced it up, "Hey Devi Maiyya! Hum toh bheeg gaye. Aur MK Sir ko ghar aane tak hum in kapdon mein rahe toh sardi lagegi humein." Soni smiled at her. "Tum mere kapde pehenlo." Soni took her to her room and gave her a red salwar kameez. Khushi blushed as she noticed the color. Soni smirked as she remembered what Khushi had said about the red color being Arnav's favorite.
"Aise mausam mein na pakode khaane chaahiye." Khushi spoke. Both the girls had changed their clothes and now they were sitting in the living room talking about Dilli city. Soni smiled at her and spoke, "Toh chalo banaate hain." Both the girls giggled and wandered off to kitchen. They chatted with each other as they made garma garam pakodas. After a while, they sat in Soni's room munching the pakodas while talking about the weather and Dilli. By the time the Pakodas emptied out both had become nothing less than best friends. Infact both would tell anybody who asked them that they felt like they have been friends from centuries.
Place - Outside KC
Arnav glanced at the clock as he waited for Khushi. It was already 6 and she was nowhere to be. He wondered if something was wrong with her. He dismissed that thought. If something had happened she would have called. Maybe she was stuck up in her work! Arnav sighed as he paced slowly waiting for her. Next day was a Sunday. He had to be away from her for a whole day and here she was not even coming early to meet him. He looked miserably around hoping that she must be around but he sighed as he realized that she was not yet here. He checked the time; 6:30. Right around the time, Maan reversed his car from the parking lot and drove off from there, neither of them noticing each other.
Where was Khushi? Arnav wondered. Suddenly, it struck Arnav and he rolled his eyes at his own stupidity. There is something called mobile, you idiot! After berating himself for some moments he was about to call her when his phone rang. It was from Khurana Mansion. He picked it up and he heard Khushi's voice, "Arnavji?" As soon as he heard her voice he bombarded her with his missile like words, "Kahaan ho tum? Where the hell are you, woman? Tumne ek baar bhi nahi socha main yahaan tumhaare liye ruka rahoonga. How foolish can you get? Did you not think about me once?" As Khushi sighed and tried to say something, Arnav cut her off, "Bas! Jab main bol raha hoon tab tum sunogi, samjhi. Did you not once think ki main tumhare liye pareshaan rahoonga? How careless can you get? Khushi, you are an idiot, do you get that? What do you have to say for that? Tell me, what do you have to say for worrying me?" Poor Arnav! He did not notice that on the other side the phone had changed hands.
Before Arnav could shout more he was cut off by an unknown voice, "Arre! Khushi ke Raanjhe apni Heer ko bolne doge tab woh bolegi na!" Arnav raised his eyebrow at the girl's voice. "Excuse me?" Pat came the reply, "Haan! Haan! Maine aapko excuse kiya! Par aap meri baat suniye! Aapki Heer Khurana Mansion mein hai. Aur jab tak Maan nahi aate woh yahaan se nahi jaa sakti, Maan ka order hai. Khushi ke phone ka battery khatam ho gaya tha isliye woh aapko call nahi kar pa rahi thi. Aur jaise che baje, unhonein apni buaji ko call lagaya aur der se aane ki baat kahi. Aur phir aapko call kiya. Aur aap hain ki unhein daante jaa rahe hain. Chi! Sharam kijiye sharam! Ye lijiye aapki Heer se baat kijiye Raanjheji." Arnav's jaw dropped as he heard the girl shout at him. Who had the guts to shout at him? Arnav wondered. He heard a giggle and heard Khushi' voice, "Arnavji?" Woh kaun thi?", Arnav asked her. "Woh aapke dost Maan Singh Khurana ki Laila thi!" Arnav looked at the phone in shock and mumbled an intelligible, "Huh?" "Aur MK Sir hain uske Majnu." "What the!", Arnav mumbled in confusion. He heard Khushi giggling and rolled his eyes. "I am coming to Khurana Mansion." He disconnected the call.
Place - Khurana Mansion
As Arnav disconnected the call, Khushi looked at Soni and Soni looked at her. Suddenly, both started laughing and soon they were clutching each other while tears of laughter streamed down their eyes. After some time, Soni suggested that they should wait for Arnav outside in the swing. As the rain had stopped, Khushi agreed. Her clothes had dried by now and she was back in her own clothes. They sat on the swing waiting for Maan and Arnav. Suddenly, they saw a car driving in. "Maan!", Soni whispered and sure enough there came Maan Singh Khurana. But as soon as he saw Soni outside, "Tum yahaan kya kar rahi ho?" "Aapke dost Arnav ka intezaar! Woh Khushi ko lene aa raha hai." Maan raised an eyebrow as he looked at Khushi in amusement. Khushi blushed and looked away. He looked at Soni again and spoke, "Par andar bhi intezaar kar sakte ho, right!" Soni frowned but Maan motioned them to go in. Both the girls trooped in with Maan. As they waited for few minutes, they heard a car drive in. Khushi smiled and ran outside after saying bye to Soni and taking her bag while Maan shook his head at her eagerness. Soni stood up to go out and Maan glared at her. She sat back down with a pout on her face and Maan wandered outside. He saw Khushi getting in Arnav's car and walked towards them. As soon as Arnav saw him, he got out and both of them hugged each other. After asking each other about their health and family, Maan spoke, "Andar aajaao. Kuch khaake jaao." Arnav shook his head. "Phir kabhi. Its already late." Maan nodded his head and both bid goodbye to each other. Arnav got into the car and drove away.
Soni frowned as she tried to get a look at Arnav from the window of the living room but sighed as she could not see him properly. Phir kabhi, Soni! Phir kabhi!
Place - Arnav's car
Khushi giggled as she told Arnav about the fun she had with Soni. Arnav smiled but frowned as he remembered the talk he had with Soni and Khushi before coming here. Khushi glanced at Arnav as she noticed his frown. She giggled as she realized what Arnav must have been thinking. Arnav glared at her as he heard her giggle and Khushi burst out laughing. Arnav maintained a serious face for few minutes after which even he joined her in laughing.
Place - Khurana Mansion
Maan asked Soni about what she did today as they walked towards the stairs and started climbing them. Bad question! Soni let loose all her thoughts as she babbled about the fun she had with Khushi. Shuru hogayi Miss. Bak-Bak! He shook his head when a sentence caught his attention. "Hum baarish mein bhi bheege aur gaano pe naache bhi." Maan stopped in his ascent and roared, "What?" Soni stopped few steps ahead and looked at him confused when it struck her. She had spoken about the rain. She rolled her eyes. Ae le! Shuru hogaya Baba Maan ka pravachan! Soni, tumhein apne aap ka khayaal rakhna chaahiye! Tum paagal toh nahi hui baarish mein bheegne ke liye! She imitated him mentally and sighed. Ek yeh Maan hai aur ek woh Khushi ke Arnav! Gussa toh chillaate hain, pareshaan toh chillaate hain! Hey Babaji, raksha karna! She mentally prepared herself to listen to Maan's lecture about her health as she walked upstairs while Maan followed her to scold her.
P.S. The song is from the movie Chameli released in 2004, sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, picturised on Kareena Kapoor. I hope you were able to imagine the girls properly.
P.P.S No one could guess the song right! So sad! *Sigh* Better luck next time!
This chapter is dedicated to fffan123 whose review gave me the idea for the line Ranjha - Heer and Laila - Majnu, said by Geet and Khushi to Arnav. Thanks for that review!
Precap - Maan and Arnav feel "I am madly in love with you."
Puzzle of the day: The clue for the song to be played in the next chapter is in the above line. Can you guess the song?
Hint : Kailash Kher! And no! It is not Teri Deewani or Saiyyaan!
Guess! Guess!
TWO SMALL BUT IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
- If you have not pressed 'like' or reviewed (anyone would work) for a month then you will not receive future PMs from me. If you are busy or have exams, then you can inform me through your review or PM or you could mention it in your status, I will continue PMing you. But if you vanish on me, my PMs will vanish on you too.
- This is not a surprise update. It is posted today because I have exam on Sunday and I won't be able to post on Saturday as I will be preparing for it. So, Saturday's update will be on Friday, Thursday's update will be on Wednesday and Tuesday's update is posted today. This way you guys will have your regular three updates for this week with proper gap in between for you to review properly. But this schedule is for only this week. Next week we will be back to Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday updates. And yes, After Friday next update will be directly on Tuesday. Sorry, can't do anything about it.
Thanks a bunch for listening to me!
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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