ArHi FF: If I were you-link to Ch20 pg 145 - Page 17

Originally posted by: hakunamatata

weekday blues...i know how it feels..

but an update would surely be a mood booster...you would enjoy the writing...and we would sit back relax with a bucket of popcorn and enjoy the update

ha ha ha..update..pretty please :D

truely different but interesting story... i m loving it...

Chapter 3: Bade bade deshon mein aise Chotey aur aisi baatein hoti hi hain!

"Chotey! Thank Goodness you're alright!" Anjali fell into her brother's arms, tears running down her cheeks. Her husband rolled his eyes in the background. Even Mamiji nudged Naniji and snickered. Mamaji chuckled under his breath. Only Chotey looked moved. He emerged from the embrace and turned a penitent face to his Di.

"I'm so sorry I ruined your anniversary Di! I'm sorry Jijaji!" said Arnav, turning to Shyam.

"Don't worry about it Saale saab. It's all good. We're just glad you are back home safe and sound," said Shyam.

"What did that awful woman do to you Chotey?" asked Anjali. She had run her hands over her Chotey's arms making sure he was uninjured. She now cupped his face closely, and peered deep into his eyes, as if she'd find a catalog of his boo-boos in them.

"What?? Oh'nothing. She just shut me up in a room all night. I broke it completely before they let me go though. Just to teach her a lesson," sniggered Arnav.

"Err. Saale Saab! I think you just upped the value of their lawsuit by a few million $," grimaced Shyam.

"What lawsuit?" asked Arnav, looking surprised. "We just let a few mice out of their cages and I broke 2 desks and several chairs. Not to mention a white board. Are they suing?"

"Saale Saab! You and your team wiped out the entire animal facility at Gupta Labs yesterday. I think a lawsuit is reasonably forthcoming," said Shyam.

"No we didn't. We released animals from about 10 cages. Those were the instructions!" said Arnav hotly.

"Arnav bitwa! Your team didn't follow the instructions! Aapko maaloom nahin tha? Inbhestigation kareka padi!" said Mamiji, taking pleasure in her nephew's discomfiture.

"They did what!" asked Arnav open-mouthed.

"They released animals from'" Shyam's voice trailed off as his wife shot him a deathly glare.

"Talk later. Poor Chotey is tired and probably hungry. Do you want breakfast? I made your favorite'aloo parathas!" said Anjali dotingly.

"Of course Di! Sounds yummy. Let me shower and I'll be down in a few. Jijaji, let's talk after breakfast. Oh'did Lavanya call?" he asked nonchalantly, as he turned away.

"Lavs! She had to be dragged away by Krish and Kabir. She wanted to storm Gupta Labs and rescue you last night. She called three times this morning asking if you were back. Why haven't you called her yet?" asked Shyam puzzled.

"The security guards gave me my phone back, sans the SIM card," said Arnav angrily. He went away to shower leaving everyone in the room puzzled and worried. Anjali worried about Chotey's appetite. He never ate enough, she pondered. She hoped he would like today's extra crisp parathas with his favorite pickle. Shyam worried about how they would fight the impending lawsuit. Naniji worried about Arnav's excessive attachment for Lavanya. She had never liked that girl. Mamiji worried about her Oriflame order not coming in on time. She was running low on Mascara. And Mamaji only worried about his breakfast. He thought it extremely unjust that after going to bed hungry, he had to wait for his blasted nephew to shower so they could all eat breakfast together. The family that eats together, prays together, stays together was the motto at the Raizada home. Arnav didn't pray. But he did eat. So, wait poor Mamaji must.

"So, it's not as bad as I originally thought," pondered Khushi silently. She had spent the morning with her Chief Scientist going over the records and determining where they stood. 1 study had been setback quite a bit, but the others were on track thanks to her policy of repeating her studies in different facilities to make sure the results were consistently repeatable. She kicked her heels off and dug her toes into the plush carpet in her office. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. "Thank God!" she whispered. Only she knew how close to the brink of disaster they'd been. The rest of the family was oblivious to what happened outside their home. The family that stays out of each others' way, stays together was the policy in the Gupta Mansion. Buaji's tepid concern, her Mother's outright ignorance and Payal's wayward flightiness in the last 24 hours had made obvious to her what she had always known. At work, she was on her own. Jai Prakash was more help than her family, she mused. Then she frowned. Had she fired him yesterday? She made a note on her iPad to ask Buaji to reinstate him. She indiscriminately fired domestic staff when she was angry. And Buaji could usually be entrusted to smooth things over with them once her temper had blown over. "What I need is a workplace Buaji!" she smiled. Her secretary buzzed. "Mr.Roy is here to to see you Ma'am," said Sally's efficient voice.

"Send him in Sal!" said Khushi, slipping her pumps back on. Mr.Roy was the company lawyer and they had a lawsuit to discuss.

"Baby, I'm so glad you're OK. I was so worried," said Lavanya, throwing her arms around Arnav and hugging him.

"I'm fine Lavs," said Arnav, irritated with the display of affection. He tolerated that from one person only. His Di.

"When did you get back? Why haven't you called me? I was waiting desperately to hear from you," said Lavanya, biting her lip.

"I didn't have my phone Lavs. And I got home 1 hour ago and just got out of the shower when you turned up here. Let's go eat breakfast," said Arnav, tamping down his annoyance in the face of her obvious concern. "And don't call me baby in front of my family. Please!" he said sternly.

"So, in private it's OK?" she asked flashing him a sultry smile. He shook his head at her obviousness. "No. It's not OK. You and I, we're just good friends. Nothing more Lavs. You know that. I don't want more. Not now," said Arnav, in a soft voice. They'd had this conversation before. Several times.

"Not now. But maybe in a few years?" asked Lavanya looking so hopeful he felt like was kicking a puppy.

"Who knows what the future holds. Right now, I want an aloo paratha. Or 4!" he laughed and led her out to the living room.

"So Akash, when can I meet your family?" asked Payal. They were sitting on a ledge along the seashore, sipping Nariyal paani. At her words Akash's eyes bulged alarmingly and he choked. After 2 minutes of consistent back thumping he recovered his breath and looked at her.

"I don't know Payal. I don't think we're ready yet," he said quietly.

"We've been dating for almost 2 months. I think we're ready, don't you?" asked Payal gaily.

"My family is different from yours Payal," said Akash.

"Yes, they're not dysfunctional, like mine. I have a workaholic sister, a mother who's head is permanently in the clouds, and a Buaji who is slightly normal, except on Wednesdays when she plays Bridge and turns into a mean competitive bitch," She laughed.

"Ha! Mine consists of a Mother who spends more time with her make up kit than her Son. A father who is the definition of "henpecked husband", a Di who is sweet but slightly obsessed with her younger brother, who is thankfully not me, and a Bhai who is the strangest character you will ever meet. Only my Dadi and Jijaji are somewhat normal." Said Akash smilingly.

"So, what's with your Bhai? You've mentioned him before, but never very much. What's he like?" asked Payal.

"He's rude and arrogant for the most part. Doesn't talk much. The strong, silent type is Bhai. He has a few friends he always hangs out with. The only person he has a soft corner for is his Di. He cares more for his animals than the rest of us, I think," said Akash unsmilingly.

"He likes animals?" asked Payal.

"Loves them. Always has. We have always had a pet in the house growing up, because of him. Dogs, cats, hamsters, parrots, we even have a goat!"

"A goat! You have a goat in your house?"

"2 German Sherpherds, and a goat are in residence presently, yes!" Akash flashed Payal that lop-sided smile she so loved.

"What are they called?" asked Payal.

"The sheps are Pat and Mike and the goat is Sulakshana," laughed Akash.

"OK. Pat and Mike are names with no personality. I bet he picked them," said Payal, receiving a nod in the affirmative. "Sulakshana on the other hand, has a lot of potential. Who named her?" she asked.

"That was me. I like to call her SuSu. It annoys everyone immensely and makes me very happy," grinned Akash boyishly.

"I'll make sure you have no hand in naming our babies!" laughed Payal, missing the look of horror on Akash's face. "What's the matter honey? You look pale?" she asked, looking at him.

"Err. Nothing. More Nariyal Pani?" he asked, getting up to buy more from the vendor.

"Sure," said Payal. She watched him stagger across the sandy beach to where the Nariyal Paani cart stood. "Maybe he's had a touch too much of the Sun. It is a hot day. Poor dear, he looks so pale, the Nariyal Paani will do him good," mused the completely clueless Miss Payal Gupta. Little did she know her boyfriend had had a touch too much of Payal, not the Sun.

Arnav and Khushi will meet in the next Chapter..promise.

Read and review peeps!

Cheers!

Maxine

Chapter 4

That was an awesome update Maxine!

Byatt main jai Arnav Singh Raizada! Yeh Akash hum ko day thakur!

Awesome update...hope that khushi and arnav meet soon

Awesome update.
Loved it.
So will Arnav say sorry or something.
Bec his colleagues did was wrong.
Continue soon

nice update.

thank God,kushi didnt lose much.ppor thing,she is all alone in her life.n thanks a lot for making it clear tht la is not arnav's girlfrnd,atleast for him.n liked this shyam who is more mature,hope he is not evil here again.

i really didnt get what is the problem with akash.i mean is he playing with payal r is he afraid of relationships???plz make it clear dear.thanks tht arnav n kushi will meet in nxt update.will be waiting for it.
so arnav didnt order the outlet of all mices,then who did?y wasnt he aware?hmm im a bit confused.lemme read the earlier chaps once again later to get a grip on the story.

i really felt bad for kushi.