Chapter 7
The next day when Arnav came down for breakfast he smelt parathas that instantly watered his mouth.
He usually didnt eat a heavy breakfast, it would be either be cereal or oatmeal. But the smell of...aloo parathas made him let today go.
"That smells good. Why out of the blue aloo parathas today di?" he asked Anjali and sat on the chair across her.
"Kh-"
"Good morning Arnav! I was going to come call you down to eat" Khushi walked over with a thaal piled with hot and heavenly smelling parathas.
"Morning" he replied drooling over at the plate in her hand.
Khushi looked at him with a bright smile and then her eyes suddenly became fake love filled and tone too sweet, "I made aloo parathas specifically for you Arnav, I know how much you love them."
She placed one in his plate and put in some chutneys on the side.
"Quick take a bite and let me know how it is!" she said excitedly.
Arnav glared at her, she was serious about not listening to him. Oh well he was going to just plain ignore her.
He took a bite and it straight away melted in his mouth. It was so warm and buttery, right amount of spice and soft. He was so close to complementing her but didnt dare utter the words out loud.
"Its okay...good" he said in a bored tone.
"Just okay?" Khushi made a sad face.
"What are you talking about chotte, they are delicious!" nani said, staring at Arnav.
"Ohhh mmm Khushi these seriously are really good. Dont listen to chotte, he is weird" Anjali added and gave Arnav a stop lying look.
"Khushi why arent you eating with us? Eat then you will know we arent just saying its good..." mami made her sit down and eat.
"But he didnt like them as much and I made them just for him" Khushi whined.
"I didnt ask you to make them, you decided by yourself so why are you crying?" he asked rudely.
"Chotte! She made them for with such love, you should be thanking and instead you are..." Anjali scowled at him.
"Yeah well I said they're good, but thats not enough for her. Women...always want more."
"Oh be quiet, thats it you cant have another one" Khushi cried.
"I dont want another one. This was more than enough, its so heavy, God knows how much butter you used. Surely wants to fatten us all up."
"Huh?! It wouldnt have been as delicious if I hadnt"
"Yeah whatever. I am done, thanks" he nodded his head at her and left the table.
"Laad governor" Khushi muttered and got lost in her yummy cooking, forgetting about the jerk.
~~~
Arnav was going through files when his phone buzzed for the third time. He glanced at the screen to see who was so dead on talking to him.
"Of course it has to be her, Khushi Kumari Gupta" he hissed.
He declined the call and got back to work. There was no point she had invaded his head. He thought about the morning, damn the food was so good. His mouth still watered at the thought of those parathas. If only she wasnt being so annoying, he would eaten another one but just to not let her win, he ignored his soul that was begging for one more.
The phone buzzed again, snapping him out of the drooling state. He accepted the call this time knowing she wasnt going to give up so easily.
"What do you want Khushi?" he asked irritatedly.
"How about a hello first?" she replied sarcastically.
"Okay...hello"
"Hi!"
He could imagine that big bright smile on her face.
"So anything I could help you with?"
"Yeah, I was wondering whether you wanted to grab early dinner tonight?"
"Ummm n-"
"Oh come on it will just be us"
"Alright"
"Yes! Meet me at the Vikram Chaat place in the mall close to the house at five."
"What the! Chaat for dinner?!" he made a face at the phone.
"Uhuh! I'll see you soon! bye" she hung before he could say anything.
He smiled, it was so typical Khushi to pick a place like that. If he ignored the annoying side of her, he accepted that he genuinely liked the girl, she was a fun company.
~~~
"We could have eaten chaat at home, whyd you had to specifically come out?" Arnav questioned as they met half way at the entrance.
"I will show you. There is a whole different fun in eating out."
"I dont find standing and eating fun."
"Oh my god Arnav, think through my perspective will you. You are no better than kid" she said exasperatedly.
"Excuse did you call me a kid?"
"Just be quiet, I promise I will apologize" she rolled her eyes.
"Sure you will" he said dryly and grabbed hold of her hand, bringing her close to him, as a crowd teenage boys rushed past them like a herd of zebras.
"Gosh watch where you're going!" Khushi yelled behind them
"Its okay Khushi they are kids" he smiled at woman pressed to his side.
"So what?! I was aware of my surroundings when I was their age" she argued.
Ignoring her, he pulled her to resume walking.
"Here we are. What do you want?"
"Mmm pao bhaji, gol guppe and chohle puri" she rubbed her hands in excitement.
"What the! You are going to eat all that?" he asked her in disbelief.
"Yeahhh, umm you can share..."
"Thats what I thought, thats just so much food."
"No! You cant really share, I meant a bite or two. Get your own if you want to eat properly" she stood arms folded.
Arnav ordered a samosa for himself and went to find a table in the crowded area.
"Dont bother Arnav, you wont find any empty spot" Khushi said loudly leaning against a counter.
She pointed her thumb at the wooden counter top behind her, "this where we are eating."
She grinned at his annoyed expression. This guy was turning out to be more fun than she had thought.
"Dont you go out to eat with di and jijaji?"
"No. With jijaji if only there is a meeting."
"Hmm, maybe you should go, you wouldnt be so awkward..."
"Huh? I do go out Miss, just not to these kinda places. These are only made for you!"
"What! Ugh Im not going to say anything."
"Dont, your mouth shut looks prettier anyways!"
It was too late by the time he realized the words said. He had lost the control over his mind and tongue since she re-entered his life.
"Aah I didnt know that. Now I will always keep it shut, just for you" she gave him flirtatious smile.
"Shutup!" he growled at her and moved to get the food.
"Yummm it smells so delicious!" she sniffed at the aroma.
"Stop sniffing like a rabbit and eat."
She made a face at him before picking up a gol gappa and popping it in her mouth.
Arnav stared at the image in front of him, the sounds and expressions she was making. He wondered why she didnt have a guy yet...and then it occurred to him that he never asked.
"So have you ever dated?" he started.
Dipping the pao in the gravy, she looked at him with interest, "Yeah I have a few times."
"Hmm, nothing serious?"
"Well they werent either just flings...at least not all of them. Never got the chance to make it serious."
"I see"
"Yehh, what about you?"
"I did, my longest one was broken off recently, probably a month ago."
"Woah thats recent, I am sorry!"
"Oh no, it was a mutual decision, nothing to be sorry about."
He stared at her keenly for some time. His hand shot up before he could think and wiped away the water that was dripping from her chin.
"Its so hard to believe you are innocent" he shook his head.
Khushi grinned wickedly, "thats cause I am not innocent!"
"What the!"
"I lost my innocence at a friends 21st birthday. Got too drunk, woke up in the morning...oh boy you have no idea how shocked and scared I was. Grabbed my things and fled from there. It was definitely a great experience..." she laughed.
Arnav just stood there speechless, eyes wide in shock.
"I-I d-didnt mean that innocence" he whispered.
"Whaaa?" she opened her mouth wide taking in another of the gol guppa.
...
...
...
"Ohhh snap, this is awkward!" she quickly busied herself in piling up the plates and returning them.
"Uhh yeah even more for me!"
"Oh shutup!" she came back.
"You know what since I told you, you have to tell me whether you have done it..." she walked out behind him.
"Hell no!"
"Oh come on Arnav, I broke the barrier of weirdness, its okay if you tell me."
"No!"
"Its not fair! You know about me."
"Umm I didnt ask."
"You are no fun!"
"You want to rent a movie? Lets watch one tonight" he changed the topic.
"Yeah whatever, you pick one and Im driving!" she snatched the keys from his hand and ran over to the drivers seat.
Laughing he obliged and sat next to her.
Music Corner
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
272